The Parchment

by Taylor Coffman

Loreli Deleon

I figured I’d write a little blog update because frankly every other MTC’er is TOO busy! As I type the whole team is in the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood conquering the great “10 out of 12” cue to cue and then a full run. For those non-theatre insiders, “10 out of 12” is the only day the union allows for a 12 hour work day with a 2 hour break to use for meals. A “cue to cue” is basically the first time lights, costumes and sound are added- so you trudge steadily through the script perfecting each moment. It can be tedious. It’s a lot of hurry up and wait. It’s usually the day the actors only get to say a few lines because the focus is mostly technical. It’s actually a lot like working on a film come to think of it.

With almost 300 tech cues- Ditch is a monster for a “small theatre” production. Today will be an essential, but very long day.

It’s my lunch break at the office, even though I am at my desk tired after a long weekend and drinking an AWAKE Starbucks tea the size of my bladder (as if this will “wake” me up/although it reminds me of the Big Gulps I used to drink during my Psych Lectures in college. The act of drinking kept me more awake than the actual caffeine)… I am feeling a bit lonely.  Although, historically cue to cue makes me want to gouge my eyes out- it bums me out not to be in the darkened theatre for 12 hours. Read the rest of this entry »

by Taylor Coffman

Illustration By Loreli Deleon

I’ve known Loreli Deleon since middle school back in Fairfax, Virginia. I am honored to say that through the years she has been the best of friends and developed into one of the most talented artists I know. Read the rest of this entry »

By Amy Schloerb

Right after my mom passed away I went to see a therapist for a while. She charged me way too much money, wanted me to get angry at my mom, and suggested I write a play to help deal with my feelings. I stopped going to see her.

Later, I realized she was right about one thing; I needed something to do, something to create, something to focus my energy into regarding my mom. And one day, while I was poking around on Facebook, I noticed that my friend was doing a 365-day photo series. Every day for one year he would take a picture of something and post it on his profile page. My first thought was, “Wow that’s cool!” which was closely followed by the thought, “I want to take a picture of something every day that reminds me of my mom.” Read the rest of this entry »

by Ryan Mulkay

by Ginger Steiner

So is anyone else disturbed by all the Beatles stuff that is penetrating the media lately? I know that this isn’t the first band that all this madness has happened to, and I am sure that it will not be the last, by any means. I guess it is just a little unsettling seeing these iconic figures as a video game–a video game that we can play where we can be just like them.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Jon Cohn

After my first shoot with Natalie Young, it didn’t seem to take long for the photos to make it out into the universe.  Select images have been published in a South African photography magazine called “Migrate”, and Natalie was also invited to exhibit a series of the images in China this winter at the Lishui International Photo Festival .

Despite my absolute adoration of Natalie and her work, the passion for our ongoing collaboration, and my intrinsic desire to be able to take some credit for the photography, I feel that I should recognize Natalie as the obvious creative eye behind this project (unless she insists on sharing credit with me).
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by Jon Cohn

I first met photographer Natalie Young in 2004 while I was working as staff at The Groundlings and she was hired to take portraits of the Groundlings past and present for a then upcoming 30th Anniversary event.  We bonded in photo sessions with some of their best-known alumni, but it wasn’t until my going away party from the Groundlings in 2005 and after several bourbons that I took the opportunity to confide some of my theatrical aspirations with Natalie.  Among them was the interest in figuring out a way for us to collaborate on something beyond her taking my headshots. Read the rest of this entry »

by Maria Mastroyannis

MTC,

Thank you.
Thank you to all of us for being honest and passionate.
Thank you for being the place where we can not only speak our minds, but where we encourage and expect each other to speak from our hearts.
It’s why I became an actor, struggled to become an actor…in order to find that place from which to be honest and real.
Thank you for being the place where we can put all that into our work, unfettered by the noise and clutter of what’s expected ‘out there’. Read the rest of this entry »

by Ginger Steiner

Boys wrestling

My brother inspires me, all the hard work and dedication he puts into a traditional family sport (Swiss Wrestling), that he loves. Despite the toll it is taking on his body. (He is the one about to get tossed) Read the rest of this entry »

by Maria Mastroyannis

Recently my family and I went to Portland, OR on vacation–one, to visit some good friends and two, because we love hanging out there.  We stayed in Hawthorne, in the southeast section of the city, east of the river.  In some ways, Portland is the opposite of LA…everyone in Hawthorne has a vegetable garden, everyone rides their bikes everywhere and it feels green, green, green, and shady.

On our first evening walk (and we walked everywhere) we stopped for some tacos, and watched as about 25 nude bike riders whizzed by.  Welcome to Portland!  The next day a passing biker cheerfully recited some poetry at me–by the sound of it, made up on the spot.  Cooky things like that.  As for the vegetables everywhere, I was impressed.  Sometimes it’s hard enough keeping up with our local farmers’ markets, let alone growing our own vegetables. Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

I have unashamedly been listening to Michael Jackson’s 2001 Number 1 hit “You Rock My World” on repeat in my car. I’ve watched the full-length short film and various other music video-length versions of the same. As I watch the video two thoughts go through my mind: 1) Calling him talented would almost be an understatement. 2) What a waste that he’s dead.

My writing/producing partner, with whom I’m working on a web series, attended the funeral service at the Staples Center with his wife. While visiting them a few days after the service, his wife handed me the funeral booklet with personal messages from family and friends along with photos of MJ. One message struck me; it was from his sister LaToya. She said that while watching the 1980 Grammys, he began crying because he had only won one Grammy. He promised her he would win more Grammys and sell more records than anyone on his next album. Read the rest of this entry »

by James Utt

When I first arrived here, a local friend told me the L.A. rule regarding left turns:  “After the green light changes back to red, two cars are allowed to turn left. If a third car tries, it will be honked at or cut off.”

Seeing my skepticism, my buddy offered to test the theory at every intersection for the next half hour.  Sure enough: Two cars, no problem; Third car, derisive honking.  It took me a while to acclimate, but I could see the reasoning.  After all, without that protected left arrow, sometimes the only cars able to get through the intersection were the two turning after the red light.
Read the rest of this entry »

by James Utt

MTC will soon decide upon its next production.  In addition to budget, cast size, set design and other considerations, there is the eternal debate:  Comedy or Drama?

It’s doubtful that any theatergoer seeks out one format exclusively.  I know I don’t. For example, in the span of a week, I saw Oleanna at the Mark Taper, Dame Edna at Ahmanson, and The Elephant Man at Andak Stage Company.

I recently saw shows that blended elements of both. The barbed political wit of The Geffen’s Farragut North and the dating ridiculousness of Macha Theatre’s He Asked for It lightened their darker subject matter. Read the rest of this entry »

by Taylor Coffman

Check out this video. A group of artists collaborating to make this in a week of time. Watching this kinda thing will surely lower your blood pressure.

by James Utt

I enjoyed Hamlet 2 the other night.  Even though it’s a comedy about the self-absorption and insecurity of actors — embodied almost too well by Steve Coogan — the movie illustrates some useful principles:

•         Personal stories — like the fight for a father’s approval — are universal stories.
•         Take the risk; don’t let fear hold you back.
•         Creation is more productive and fulfilling than whining.

In the film, Dana Marschz, an actor whose biggest claim to fame is an infomercial for the Jack LaLanne Juicer, has been relegated to teaching drama in an Arizona high school.   After being notified that the principal is killing the arts program, Dana is inspired to save his classes (or go out with a bang) by writing a sequel to Hamlet. Read the rest of this entry »

by Ginger Steiner

We had a stab lab today (see Taylor’s blog post, What is this thing called STAB LAB???). We worked on Taylor’s play “Ditch”, a piece that is about a relationship between a man and a woman and their inner struggles to deal with that relationship. I got to read the part of Elizabeth and I got to say a line that really hit home for me: “When does my life actually actually start?”

My birthday is coming up in a few days, so it has got me thinking. A year older, another year wiser, but am I where I thought I would be when I’m thirty…ISH? No! I had so many dreams of what life would be like. A loving marriage to a man who adores me. Shuffling the kids off to baseball practice. A house with a big back yard and maybe a pool, and finally, the family dog that would go on every family trip with us. The whole nine yards. At least that is the path that everyone in my family has seemed to have taken. The generic “Leave it to Beaver” dream. Really looking back, was that my dream or was it just expected that I would have those things since that is what my parents did? What their parents did…and so on?
Read the rest of this entry »

by Ryan Mulkay

It’s sometimes the hardest thing to do. Recently I embraced the idea that I was coming up on my one year anniversary of residency in Los Angeles. So far I can say that this town has been good to me—even in the harsh times it is going through. But, I had a thought. In the apartment complex in which I live my roommates and neighbors (6 young men in total) all moved here with a common goal. In one sense or another we moved here to work or perform in the entertainment industry. Though we spend plenty of time together as friends, we had yet to put a project or creative venture into motion. It would only make sense, right? We had all the means and know-how but had not yet put one in motion… Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

Women: While growing up in the black church and within a black family, respect was something that was drilled into me. I was surrounded by strong, assertive women who spoke their minds; the men were no slouches either.

Now as a man, I have some amazing female friends. My life would be so different without their love, support, protection and insight. As an artist and observer of the human condition, I have learned so much from them. I’ve learned as they’ve shared their guy problems with me how much of themselves they hide and how often they’ve sought self-worth as women through different relationships, education and careers. Read the rest of this entry »

by James Utt

Titan Arum

I went to the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens last month to see the Titan Arum or “Corpse Flower.”  With a bloom reaching six feet in height, this native to Sumatra is considered the world’s largest flower, but it is just as famous for the odor of rotting meat it gives off to attract insects.   Titan Arums can go many years between blossoms so when I found out that one was right here in our own backyard, I hurried to Pasadena to see it.

After a few minutes in a line filled with curious adults and kids, I got to see Titan Arum for myself. It’s about the size of  Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors.   It was reaching the end of its short bloom cycle, so instead of decaying flesh, the Titan Arum smelled more like cabbage.  Even without the corpse odor it was still worth it to see something firsthand that I only read about. Read the rest of this entry »

by Ginger Steiner

Crack Dip

So, I got a lot of great comments on my last blog “LA living!” and one major question. “What exactly is Crack dip?”. It is a delightful highly addictive sausage dip that I try to bring to every Mutineer company meeting. I introduced it to the Mutineer family one late night rehearsal for “Lie With Me”. I was just trying to be a good stage manager, making sure my people where fed. So, I brought my crack dip and my chips with a hint of lime and served it to my hungry crew. And, that was it; they were hooked. One bite and they were crack dip junkies.
Read the rest of this entry »

by Taylor Coffman

You might be wondering… as am I… what’s next for MTC??? Well in my personal opinion, it could be one of the amazing things percolating in what we MTCer’s call STAB LAB. What started as a workshop for scenes and audition sides has truly evolved into where the magic is happening! (although scenes and audition sides are still more than welcome). Its name came from an email exchange between Jon and me–and, well, my suggestion for calling it STAB LAB was actually half a joke–but it stuck and now there’s no going back. I do admit though it’s a perfect title. Mutineers probably stabbed each other a bunch. And it’s our way of “taking a stab” at new material…
Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

I was walking down the street in my neighborhood and thinking about what I need to be doing to kick my career to the next level as a director-writer-actor. The main answer that came to me was to “be prolific.” What prolific meant to me as I walked was to focus on quantity, not to the exclusion of but with preference over quality. I needed to get my momentum going by just making more mistakes i.e. learning by doing.

When I was living in Queens, NY, I finally made the decision to get comfortable on the guitar. I committed to practicing four hours a night after I got home from work. I remember one night getting home around 1 A.M. from seeing a buddy perform and picking my guitar up to start my 4-hour session. I made some horrible sounds with that guitar, but after a while I started to make “something approaching music.” Read the rest of this entry »

by Jon Cohn

I have long believed that theatre artists were far more successful at their craft when they had the opportunity to experience the world that they live in rather than submerge themselves in rather extensive programs to learn about it.  That’s not to say that training is irrelevant or unimportant–just a feeling that an equal measure of life is a vital supplement to more effectively and accurately observe, reflect, and comment upon the human condition.

Mutineer Theatre Company recently passed its one-year mark.  We are a brand-new non-profit theatre company in the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.  We are actively developing multiple original projects that all have the potential to be produced on our stage and at the same time we are strategizing our financial development efforts so that these endeavors can be actualized.  I find that I am tempted by the thought of submerging myself in all of the work that must be done for Mutineer and allow for no other outside activities or distractions.  But then it occurs to me that this would not only be a disservice to our company and to myself as an artist but also to the theatre community at large if I didn’t get out there to see what shows were running.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Maria Mastroyannis

Upon my suggestion, three of us Mutineers went to see La Didone at the Red Cat last week.  My husband and I had seen Wooster Group’s ‘Hamlet’ there last year, and loved it.  That production had simply employed a fast-forwarded Richard Burton film recording of Hamlet from 1964 as a sort of choreographic skeleton upon which to hang this full length production of the play.  The result was a surprisingly brisk, expressive and witty work.  I came away thinking, ‘Well, of course, how else to do Hamlet’, the idea and its execution were so elegant, simple and somehow complete. Read the rest of this entry »

by Amber Hamilton

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.  (Find out more about Matt)

I really just want to see the world.  Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

(Not really a review as much as a shout-out)

The Creative Fête is an opportunity for actors, musicians and other performers to take the stage one night each month to perform things they’re working on. The fête is the creation of a group called The Nursery (Ellie Araiza, Benjamin Maixner, Sean Riblett and Bill Voorhees). I was greeted by Bill Voorhees a long-time friend from Sacramento who invited me. He told me I could perform, spectate or both according to my desire. I chose to spectate as I didn’t have anything I really wanted to showcase. Read the rest of this entry »

by Luke Goldstein

I’ve always been a fan of storytelling. Nothing beats the feeling of being in a room with a bunch of people who are intently locked into the tale you are pouring out. You get to take them on a journey, hopefully to somewhere they’ve never been before. It wasn’t until my junior year in college that I had the epiphany that I was no different from the people out here in California who actually make a living doing that very thing. My route was a touch roundabout, but eventually I set foot in the “land of make believe” and began my quest to become one of the many talented and working storytellers in this town. Read the rest of this entry »

by Amber Hamilton

A few days ago I celebrated my 29th birthday.  For the last nine years, I’ve been counting down to 30, and here I am with one year left to go.  Why I’ve made my 30th year such a landmark in my timeline, I’m not sure.  Perhaps it’s because society seems to hint that by your 30s you need to be successful…you need to be somebody…you need to have money in your bank account.  Maybe it’s because all my friends back home are married with kids, and I feel that if I’m not settled down by the time I’m 30, I never will be.  Or, perhaps it’s because I can hear my father in my ear telling me throughout my twenties not to stress, and that by the time I’m 30 I’ll have everything figured out.  Well, with one year left in my twenties I don’t know a damn thing.  Read the rest of this entry »

by Ginger Steiner

Being a part of the whole Mutineer team has made me challenge myself and push myself creatively…..There are so many talented, smart, interesting people in our group. Sometimes I have to admit that it can be a little intimidating. I consider myself the shy one…..I am the girl that in a large crowd of people tends to get lost….I came to this city with big hopes and dreams of stardom and movies: You walk off the bus and someone signs you to a movie deal…..”What, you mean that shit doesn’t happen in real life?” And I am the shy one….What the hell was I thinking moving to this big city?….It doesn’t matter how talented I am; if I can’t sell myself, I will never make it in this town….My heart is permanently attached to my sleeve, so the business end of “Show Business” would have eaten me alive. Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

You must be the change you want to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi

No matter how true or profound some quotes actually are, for some reason once they get added to enough bumper stickers and t-shirts they can start to sound naive or cliché. I used to hear or read the phrase above by Gandhi (one of my cousins uses it on her voicemail greeting) and think of it in the geopolitical sense. But, recently I have started to think of it as being powerful in small things. Read the rest of this entry »