Jenny's Wedding

My daughter Jenny got married on August 30th in San Clemente, CA with the ocean as a backdrop. The reception was at Cindy and Ron's house (my other daughter and son-in-law), directly across the street from the ceremony.

The bride was beautiful.

There were about one hundred and forty people in attendance. Local Long Beach musicians ( who have gained some national notoriety) took turns honoring Jenny and her new husband (Dave Beste, bass player with Rocco DeLuca and the Burden) with original songs. Dave and Jenny sang a few with them. Rocco was to sing but was out of town for the weekend. Kiefer Sutherland was there.

Tick Tock!

My stage play, Tick Tock! is going up (staged reading) at Theatre 4301, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, June 13th. The short play was chosen by the Dramatists Guild of America for the 2008 An Evening of New Works. Director (Charles St. Clair) and cast: Edith Kelly (MOTHER), Nicole Colby (GEORGETTE), Robin Austin (JERILYN) and Mark Austin (NARRATOR) have done a marvelous job bringing the play to life; my thanks go out to them.

DICK'S LAST TRIP TO THE WALL

The Run For The Wall riders honored Dick Darnell by taking him (his ashes) to the Wall.

DICK DARNELL

10-31-47 Y 05-02-08
0210 AM: passing of Lloyd "Dick" Darnell
SSgt. US Army 101st. Airborne.

Dick, we will always love you.

Rocket City! Update

An experiment: Freedom's Last Breath as the prologue to Rocket City!

Easter wishes

Happy Easter!

I will be leaving for CA today to see family, and I will return Monday night.

Dick's Party Update

The party was a success. The place was packed. So much food. Dick was so thrilled. I was thrilled to sing God Bless America to him. He had dinner with us this past Friday and spent the night.

He is on his way back to California for another treatment.

He will beat this thing.

Party for Dick Darnell

Our friend Dick Darnell (Dick's Family Kitchen) is coming into town for a Welcome Home party in his honor. It will be held at the VA hospital in Phoenix this Saturday evening (February 16th). If you are in town and want to honor this extraordinary Vietnam veteran, please email me and I can give you the particulars. jamarx@cox.net.

Dickie Bird

Please add your prayers and happy, healthy thoughts for our dear friend, Dick Darnell in his fight with cancer. This big-hearted Vietnam veteran (101st Airborne) is always there for everyone! and now is his time to be supported by all the people he has helped.

"Dickie Bird, we love you." xxxooo

Happy New Year

2008

I will be working with Mark Foreman in the coming months on an ongoing project of mine.



Writing Examples can also be found @: http://jonnasmuse.blogspot.com/

I'm baaack

Got back from CA last night. Great visit with my family. I got to see everyone. Yea! So, now I'm continuing where I left off in 07.

Merry Christmas

I am driving to Southern California Saturday to spend Christmas with my family. Yipee!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

God Bless America!

"Memorial" a memory

We struck the set for "Memorial" after the the last performance Saturday night.

Cast and crew did a fine job. Lots of dialogue to learn and they did. There were a few things in the blocking of one song that didn't happen as they should, but no one but Charlie (lighting design) me probably noticed. The Protest Scene went well. Yea!

One challenge I faced: 'Attitude' abounded.

So, the stage is bare at Phoenix College, but not for long.

Randy Tallman

Randy Tallman [1939-2007] will be missed by all. My heart aches at the news of his passing on November 2oth, my birthday.

I met Randy in 1991 when I went to Dallas for the production of my musical drama, Rocket City! (then entitled: The American Dream...Interrupted). He, as director, and Russ Benzamin, as musical director mounted a vigorous production and helped move the play forward.

Randy and his wife, Laura (and of course, Ret and Joe who took turns letting me crash in their bedrooms) welcomed me into their home every 4th of July weekend to share their home and hospitality [until 9/11, and then I chose not to fly for a long while, and missed all the fun at their wonderful 4th of July party: love, friendship, music sharing, Laura's brisket, Randy's guacamole ...and all the other tasty and loving things that the Tallmans afforded their friends].

The unique talents of the wonderful, loving man that was Randy Tallman, will live on forever in our hearts and in the world.

I will truly miss you, Randy.

Memorial is on its feet.

Opening night (Nov. 15th) went well. Closing weekend Nov. 29-Dec. 1. All of Dreamer's signers will be part of the production. Should be great.

"Memorial" by Charles LaBorde

Rehearsals have been going well for "Memorial" under the direction of Gary Imel and musical direction by Jackie Marx. The Phoenix College production opens on Nov. 15th.

This Readers Theatre piece has been masterfully directed by Gary Imel. I have been given the opportunity to direct Scene 8, the Protest Scene and we will be tightening that scene in rehearsal tonight.

We have shadow signers ably led by A Dreamer.

With all the performance elements and the music from the Era this should be an exciting production.

The past three days have been spent working (with the musical director) on the musical score for Rocket City!--in preparation for the Broadway reading. Things are going well. The first three songs are complete and ready for the reading.

Writing Updates

Freedom's Last Breath was well-received at the Scottsdale reading.

Just finished a new play. Tunnel Vision, 60 pages, 5 characters: 4M, 1F. Non-musical drama. The synopsis can be found at the site.

Other new plays:
The Nest, 10 minute, 2 characters: 2F. Young adult drama
Tick Tock, 10 minute, 3 characters, 3F. Drama.

New screenplays (not completed-synopsis upon request):
Tentative title: Lake Castle
Tommy Boy's Touchstone

The Rocket City reading is still on for NYC. I just don't know when.

Also, new writing posted at www.fanstory.com (jackiesmuse)

Charles St. Clair to direct

Charles St. Clair will direct Freedom's Last Breath for the Dramatists Guild Friday Night Footlight series: An Evening of New Works. He is in the process of casting the piece. Watch for updates concerning this June 8th workshop production at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Quote of the Day

Difficulties strenghten the mind, as labor does the body.

Seneca
Roman dramatist, philosopher and politician (5 BC-65 AD)