Gregory G. Allen's Blog, page 28

Remembering Dad

Greg & DadThe holidays can be an amazing time with family and friends. But as the recent events in Connecticut have shown us, for those that have lost loved ones, it can always be bittersweet as you remember holidays shared with them.
It was ten years ago today that I received the phone call that my father had passed. That call came in the middle of the night, just a few days prior to my flying to Texas to be with them all for Christmas. Yes...only three more days and I would have seen him. It is hard for me to believe ten years have flown by that quickly and yet I can recall that particular year so clearly as we rushed to get his funeral done in those few days that lead up to Christmas and what a hard Christmas it was to get through.
But rather than dwell on that sad time, I wanted to remember the good times. The Christmases that I know he and my mom would discuss that money was tight, but somehow they would manage to get us that ‘big ticket item’ on our list. (The photo here is from the early 80s when I got my Atari for Christmas.) The crazy holidays visiting relatives when grandparents' homes were overflowing with way too many people - but we'd make it work by plopping down a 'bed' wherever we could. The family vacation where dad drove us from Texas to Colorado and we thought we were really something sleeping in a van at the KOA campgrounds - never knowing that was my parents way of affording the trip and wanting to give me and my sister a great memory.  
Dad & MomDad was a salesman. He could sell anything to anyone! And I think in many ways, I got my “I can do that” attitude from him. I went into a business where I was constantly selling myself. As a performer. As an author. And he believed that I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to do. Even my years in Corp America as I climbed that ladder, Dad absolutely saw no reason why I shouldn't be working my way up to management.
Dad was also a people person. He loved to talk to strangers. (Probably why he was so good at his job when he would go into a store to speak to clients and make them believe they needed what he had on his truck in their store. Then later in life, he worked many years for Frito Lay and was known by many as ‘the chip man’.) I can usually hold my own when speaking to strangers and I guess he instilled in me that we learn from talking to others and as a writer: well, that’s where I get the best characters!
Mom/Me/Dad (Yes...I was a turtle)I try to remember the whole package of my dad and not just the last ten years of his life where he fought with heart disease. He died much too young at 59, but to me – he seemed as if he had already lived a full lifetime by that point. He served as an MP in the army overseas. He married young and divorced young. He blended a family when he married my mom and they had me. He buried a son. He said “let’s do it” when my mom wanted to become a foster family and then we were blessed with an awesome little boy who we ended up adopting. But he always seemed to roll with the punches (okay – I didn't get that quality as I’m always stressed, but wish he would have passed that along to me).
I celebrate him ten years after his passing. 
I miss you, dad. 
But I see you every day when I look in the mirror. 

When Good Shows Shift Courses

Sunday night, two of my favorite television shows came to an end for the season. While I wanted to distract myself from the non-stop media coverage of the horrific events in Connecticut - these shows didn't actually do much in the way of calming my brain.

Still, I couldn't help but look at both of these shows as an author. When I work on a novel, I spend so much time with an editor telling me what chapters do not push the story along. Are my characters being developed? Are choices they make later in the book something that makes sense? Those types of issues.

After watching Dexter and Homeland on Showtime, I usually visit different forums to read comments people are saying about the ending and how they felt. In the case of Dexter, it has been on for so many seasons that viewers start to feel they know the characters as well as the writers do. We believe we know what they people would do and when something really major happens that we may not agree with, we sometimes start to think the writers are simply looking for a shock to our systems. After all: this show is about a serial killer so we've become numb to that after all these seasons. So instead they try and top it and I found myself truly upset by the outcome thinking it was so far fetched, I almost wished the series would have ended Sunday night and not gone for another season.
Homeland was only ending their second season and was the hot ticket on television last year. This year however, we had so many subplots that didn't seem to go anywhere. By seasons end - the writers have decided this odd romance is more important than the thriller they were originally writing. The character they had created for Claire Danes has evaporated this year (which should get some feminist up in arms), yet I'm not ready to give up on this show as I really do enjoy it. However, in the wake of 9/11 - I think the writers owe it to their viewers to do a little more homework on what is plausible in their story lines.
But what do I know? I'm just an indie writer attempting to tell my own stories and there are those that love my work and others that hate it. So I suppose in the end, everyone sitting on the internet today is considered a critic in one way or another as we're all going to share our views.
If you are a fan of these shows, be sure and share your views too.

Theater Creates Memories

The last musical I ever did before I moved away from Texas 25 years ago was Annie. I played Bert Healy and had a great time doing it before heading to NYC to test my fate with other roles. And now, here it is back on Broadway again this year. People have great memories from seeing musicals. They make you ‘feel’ something when you witness them. The same is true to the actors performing in them. And boy do actors have stories to share from those productions.Actor and author Arthur Wooten has shared just such stories in his latest novel DIZZY: A FICTIONAL MEMOIR. I've blogged about Arthur before, but there is something so different and special about this book – I had to blog again. Arthur has created a world in his latest work that is set smack-dab in the middle of the Broadway community. And he has plenty ‘stories’ to share. He was a child actor, went off to major in theater and communications as he continued performing and then moved to NYC where his work in regional theater really took off. In the novel, Arthur has created a leading actress on Broadway named Angie Styles and she shares flashbacks to summer stock jobs and regional work: many of those stories taken directly from the author’s own life. (And yes: Annie is even discussed in his book.) The author has told me that performing was always just a part of who he was. From directing the neighborhood kids in shows to the huge productions he did later in life: he couldn't get away from it. Arthur on Cape CodSo it makes sense for him to cover this aspect of his life in a novel. And yet, he chose to do something really unique by wrapping it up in a fictionalized account so that his character is well known and loved by many as a huge Broadway star. The man knows from which he speaks because his main character is diagnosed with the same disorder that Arthur deals with daily.I've never heard of this disorder until meeting Arthur. We spent some time together in Cape Cod this last summer and I saw 1st hand how it affects him. It’s called bilateral vestibulopathy with oscillopsia. In 2005, a virus went to his brain that destroyed the working of both of his inner ears. So he has no sense of balance. He always feels as if he is bouncing on a trampoline. The oscillopsia is the brain unable to decipher if he is upright or upside down. So he’s in a constant state of unrest. (Strangely enough, we found he did best in the water when we were away and he spent so much time relaxing in the bay off of Cape Cod.) The book is inspiring when one realizes the author is sharing something that affects many and yet is not often discussed. It is also entertaining for those that love a great theater story. (Just look at how many people are watching SMASH and GLEE on TV.)Pick up a copy of the book and see for yourself HERE.Learn more about vestibular. Learn about Arthur.

This Brother is Proud

Last year I did an entire blog series on people taking chances in life; changing careers, following dreams. There has been someone in my life that I've always looked up to and admired and that is my sister. She has amazed me in all that she has done as an adult. An incredible mother. An awesome teacher. She can decorate and plan a party like no one’s business. And has a gift for singing that (I’m biased), but I think can’t be matched.
We always shared the love of music growing up. She was considered “the country” one in the family and I was “the Broadway” singer. Sure, she did musicals in high school and I even popped out a country tune my senior year to enter a singing contest – but we both knew our strength and 
weaknesses. And we would rely on each other. I moved off to NYC and would spend many nights on the phone sharing stories of my life as an actor and I watched her world as a singer take off. She became vocally stronger as she would sing with bands, released a CD, opened for Restless Heart…I was so proud of her!
Angie as a "Dinette"And then this year, she did something that I couldn't believe. She auditioned for a musical! Yes, we all knew she could sing it (it’s a country-themed show) – but she had forgotten all the underlying elements of putting up a show. Rehearsals. Dancing. Memorizing lines. Tech rehearsals. Writing down your blocking in the script. Things I just take as normal as theater has always been my life. But ‘living’ this with her 1500 miles apart the past few weeks has been wonderful for me. I've talked to her on her drive home (most nights) and have been so impressed with how she has tackled this new challenge.
It’s never too late in life to try something new. We should all remember that. Tonight, my sister opens in Pump Boys & Dinettes in Dallas, Texas and I’m sending so much good thoughts her way. Only wish I could be there in the audience to enjoy it.


Stephanie Riggs & Angie McWhirter as "Dinettes"
Break a leg, sis!

Don't You Hate When...

That's right. One of my random blogs about something that chaps my rear!

First, I'll start with saying...I love reality competitions. There I said it. I watch so many of them and find myself pulling for my favorites. From Survivor to the new Cake Boss competition - there is something great about sitting back and watching them. For me, it is mindless TV that I can watch during an afternoon on a weekend. No involvement in a story line. And most times on a weekend, they run several back to back on Bravo or the Food Network.

But there is something that completely bugs me and Food Network is the worst offender. (Are you listening powers that be over at that network?)

If you want people to watch your shows, stop showing the commercial for the next 'new' show in the middle of the re-run. That commercial is going to show who is left on the show and ruin the 'who is going home at the end of this episode' excitement I have watching the marathon.

I know, I know. In the greater scheme of all that is happening in the world, this shouldn't bother me at all. But it does. It just seems like bad marketing. They think they are getting you to tune in to the new one in prime time. But what they are really doing is messing up the thrill of the competition for those that haven't seen it yet.

So Food Network...you give us great shows, but while I'm watching The Next Iron Chef: Redemption, stop showing me who is on the next episode. Thanks. 

Rudolph is LIVE and on Stage

The professional children's theater company Growing Stage knows how to cater to the tots that fill their seats. When you walk into the historic Palace Theatre in Netcong, NJ, you step into an enchanted land perfect for children of all ages. Murals of classic characters adorn the walls inside the theater. A 'reindeer' shopping area takes up a back corner of the space for this holiday season. And a painted brick road creates the center aisle making sure that audiences know they are in a land for children. 
I happily attended a performance of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to get me into the Christmas spirit. The moment the overture started, I was transported back to that of my own youth watching the yearly stop-motion show. All of the classic Johnny Marks songs and musical underscoring come directly from the beloved Rankin-Bass television special. And Growing Stage does not disappoint with this 'live action' production. Winter wonderland sets of snow trees and the Christmas town roll on and off stage (many times pushed by reindeer, elves, and rabbits). As someone who has watched the show so many times I believe I could quote it, I was so entranced by the attention to detail in costume design (by Lori B. Lawrence and Scaramouche Costumes) and set and prop design (by Perry Arthur Kroeger). It was obvious they had a shared desire with director Stephen L. Fredericks to give audiences what they know from television. But this production takes the wonderful story to a new level with so much dancing choreographed by Jillian Petrie and musical direction by Laura Petrie. It is a perfect mix of nostalgia for older audiences members and Christmas wonder for those young. 
I love that Growing Stage utilizes the likes of professional actors mixed with adorable children to fill out the roles on stage. The professional artists make up some of the larger roles, but I must admit that I was impressed with this fine company across the boards. Becky Nitka is wonderfully child-like in the title role and has her misfit match in P.J. Schweizer's comical Hermey. These two take us on the lessoned-filled journey that 'different' is not a bad thing while entertaining us in dance and song. Megan Hurley's Clarice (the doe that catches the eye of Rudolph) has the beautiful soprano song There's Always Tomorrow from the movie, but adds a graceful ballet to the mix.  David Spellman, William Ward, Will Sandoval and Steven Nitka all bring excellent exuberance to Yukon Cornelius, Sam the Snowman, Coach Comet and Donner/Boss Elf while making me believe their claymation counterparts have truly come to life. Director Stephen Fredericks is the much loved man in the red suit and his Santa was spot on. If I closed my eyes I swore I was hearing the soundtrack from the TV show. Actually, each seemed to have truly watched the movie several times to deliver memorable lines in the way our ears are accustomed to hearing it (a special shout out to young Bryn Bennett as Charlie in the Box), yet still making the roles their own. I was quite impressed with the dances the children would do...right down to the two bunnies in the winter wonderland we all know from the TV show. Huge kudos to this production in how they handled King Moonracer and The Abominable Snowman.
I had such an enjoyable afternoon and the cheers and smiling faces on the young audiences showed they did as well. The only thing I could wish for is that microphones were used during the songs as voices would get lost behind the music too often. Perhaps someone out there will learn from Scrooge this season and want to make a nice sized donation to Growing Stage so all those voices can be heard with a state-of-the art sound system.
Jump in those sleighs and get to Netcong as fast as you can! The show runs through December 23. Full details can be found on their website: www.growingstage.com
All photos by Danny Campos

Holiday Shopping for Readers

Chanukkah starts next weekend and so I thought it was a great time to do a ‘self-serving’ blog about some book gift ideas. Actually, my book coming out in 2013 has Chanukkah as the setting in one of the chapters – but for now, take a gander at the list below for some one stop book shopping ideas for the holidays!
Greg Allen’s Adverse & Diverse Stories!
My brother: Greg in back Proud Pants is the novella about my older brother who passed away. Stop right there! I know you’re saying “how depressing for holidays”, but actually it is a love letter to my mom (his step mom) and there “is” some mention of Christmas in the book.
Okay. So Well with My Soul doesn’t really cover any holidays, but there is a lot (A LOT) of partying in it! And once again – it is about family. How two brothers can be soooo different as they grow up. And it’s topical (though set in the 70s-90s). It deals with the issue of ‘praying away the gay’.
Quilt my grandma made me
Over 25 years oldIf you want a book that is going to plop you right in the middle of Christmas…complete with snow in Maine and all the trimmings – Patchwork of Me is for YOU! (It actually covers several fall holidays), but this award-winning story of a woman's self discover is a great holiday read!
If you want a book for children of all ages…don’t miss out on Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism ! The MeeGenius People's Choice Winner (and Reader's Favorite Winner for preschool) is a wonderful gift for children to learn not to fear someone just because they are different.
And since I mentioned it – my next book will be out in 2013 and it is called Cool Side of the Pillow – very excited about people reading this one. Different’ voice’ for me to tell a story and I get to pull from my early years of children’s theater…plus create a lovable zany character that people will want in their own lives! Here is a blurb on it:
Zachery Kleinmann lives in the elite world of New Canaan, Connecticut and has left his accounting job four years earlier to be a modern stay-at-home father. But as his son is starting pre-school, his wife is passionately involved in her own career, and Zach is knocking on forty years old, he begins to wonder how he will find his own serenity and define himself moving forward.  Enter Ginger Charman, an eccentric, free living actress who has dedicated her life to bringing joy to children and keeping all those around her young at heart. As Zach is pulled into her world and discovers secrets about his new friend, he is not sure he'll ever be able to leave the rabbit hole once he has fallen through - or if he'll even want to venture outside of it again.
Happy Shopping!

What You Pay For A Bite

If you didn't know that Guy Fieri's Times Square restaurant was completely attacked in a NY Times review two weeks ago - then you must have been away from the TV and internet the past few weeks. So when meeting a friend for dinner before a show last night, we decided to give the place a try. 

We walked in to a fairly empty place and thought "oh no...people are seriously listening to a critic", but then decided 6:00 pm in New York was an early time for dinner. (By the time we left, the place was packed.) We were greeted by a very nice hostess and even nicer waitress. Perhaps they are all trying really hard due to the publicity they have received or just maybe they are doing their job.
I 'checked in' on Facebook where friends started to share what they had heard about the place. Again showing that we all listen to critics. But my friend and I were all about being daring and checking it out for ourselves.
I like food. Obviously. Look at the title of my blog. I eat at all kinds of places. I spend every Wednesday night at Fridays (which I'm sure Pete Wells of the NY Times would detest). Guess what? Their food was not bad. Actually, my burger was pretty darn good. My friend had pork sliders that had a great kick to them. To us, it was what it was supposed to be: bar food. Perhaps Mr. Wells thought he was dining elsewhere, but if he goes to any place in the Times Square area, surely he knows most of those are geared towards tourists.
The tourist. That industry keeps so much of Manhattan going. And honestly, I think it is unfair the prices for food in that area. Is Fieri's food overpriced for what he is serving? Yes. It is. But so is every huge place in Times Square. A bowl of soup should not be $8. An appetizer shouldn't be over $12. But anywhere you go in the radius of those blocks in Manhattan and that is what you are going to spend. (Tip to tourist: head over to 9th Ave to eat and spend less!) I took my nieces to Applebee's in Times Square last week for lunch (don't throw stones for us eating at a chain) and spent $100. Completely outrageous. 
So if people want to complain about something in the food industry in Midtown Manhattan, talk about price gouging to hit tourist over the heads. They leave NY saying "it's the most expensive place to eat" when in reality, you can find really great food in the city and spend way less.
We just decided to try a bite of Guy's food to make a point. But next time, we'll spend our dollars in a more frugal way and still have a great pre-theater dinner. (And cocktails. Gregory likes to get his drink on prior to a show.)
   

Don't Cry for Evita

The first revival ever of Evita on Broadway opened this past spring. As someone who tries to see as much as he can, I'll admit it was never on my radar to see. I watched some clips, I saw it on the Tony Awards and nothing called for me to see it.
I'm in my 40s. I didn't move to New York until 1987. I missed the original production (though I do have a shout out to it in one of my books). I saw it a few years ago at the Helen Hayes Theater in Nyack and enjoyed finally seeing it live. But I always thought something was missing in the production that took so long to return to New York.
I was wrong.
There is much to love in this production. The moment it started I was taken in by the film footage used of the actual Eva Peron. The set is absolutely stunning with lighting that gives beautiful depth as actors can be seen far upstage in shadows. The dancing...all those tangos - so wonderful to watch. The cast members that I have seen playing leads in other musicals that took ensemble roles in this show goes to show how much New York actors wanted to do this show. And one of my nieces seeing it with me (who is studying sound design at Penn State) gave me a full lesson on the intricate sound design used.  
Max von Essen with my nieces after the show.We attended a matinee the day before Thanksgiving and was told that Ricky Martin would not be on at the TKTS window. I knew I wanted to see Max von Essen go on as Che and lucky for the audience there that day - we saw an amazing performance. I have seen him in Les Miz, Dance of the Vampires and so many other shows. The man continues to work on his craft surpassing what he has done previously. A voice that soars and never tires as he belts out all of that music that Che must perform. Yes, we saw people leave when they knew that Mr. Martin would not be going on - but boy did they make a mistake.
I've also seen Michael Cerveris in numerous shows and always enjoy him in all that he does. Rachel Potter had a beautiful voice as the Mistress and I would have loved to hear her sing more and more.
And now to the title character. I have to just say that going on a matinee, I had hoped to be seeing Christina DeCicco in the role. I had seen what the critics had done to Elena Roger and read so much about her on the internet about her small voice. But there is more that critics did not mention. Once you get past the fact she is not the usual powerhouse one sees in the role - something happens. This tiny framed woman begins to grab you. She has such power in that small body and still knows how to command a moment. You witness the journey of Eva from a young woman to a ruthless leader. She has subtle glances that shows how she is capable of getting what she wants. No, her voice is not a huge booming sound. Yes, she sings all those high notes that are in the score. It's just simply a different type of voice than what we are accustomed to hearing. I also think because she is not a New York 'star' in the role - we do not find ourselves always watching her. Perhaps when Ricky is on, audiences are always watching him. (I myself couldn't take my eyes from Max when he was on stage.) Maybe it is a bad thing when the title character doesn't demand your constant attention or maybe it is the mark of a giving performer. 
I say take the chance and see for yourself the next time you are in New York. 
Lastly...I got center orchestra seats from TKTS. The entire back of the orchestra section was empty. I'm not sure I've ever seen that in a Broadway house before - especially around a holiday with so many tourists in town. I found it sad, yet I know that is a huge theater to fill. I'm also pleased that producers have kept it running even when critics were not the kindest to the production.
And yes...I'd still love to get back and see Ms. DeCicco in the role at some point. Just to see how a different woman would convey Evita in this really beautiful production.

A Christmas Story: Live on Stage!

Joe West & Johnny RabeWe have traditions in our lives for reasons. They make us think of a great time in our lives or they are simply enjoyable. For my family, it was always watching A Christmas Story each year, many times reciting the lines along with the movie. That tradition was also passed to my nieces from my sister and while they were visiting me for Thanksgiving, we took in the new musical based on the movie of this name. 

What a great time we had!
Peter BillingsleyWith a book by Joe Robinette and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, the three have taken the original story of Jean Shepherd's life of growing up in Indiana and brought it to life as a wonderful musical. The expected moments from the 1983 movie are there, but with a magical 'punch' of seeing them live and on stage. From the tongue stuck to the flag pole, to the famous line of 'you'll shoot your eye out' - it is all there. John Rando's direction brings such heart to the piece by giving audiences that love the movie what they want to see and yet enhancing it through song and dance. I found the entire cast to be completely charming. We saw Joe West go on as Ralphie and thought he was wonderful as the boy wanting to get his BB gun for Christmas.  (The part is shared with Johnny Rabe who plays most performances.) Zac Ballard as his little brother stole our hearts (and his scenes) and John Bolton and Erin Dilly were the perfect pair of parents to these small boys. I also grew up watching The Wonder Years on TV, so seeing Dan Lauria as the older Ralphie/narrator was a huge bonus. 
Sometimes movie musicals leave us longing for the original, but I never felt that once. The music was a mix of old time fun and sounds of present day Broadway. The singing, the dancing - all was the perfect thing to get us in the holiday mood. I'm so thankful to the producers (one of which I personally know) for working so hard to get this show to Broadway. One of those is the original Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) from the movie. I believe it could become a staple for the New York scene for many years to come.
On a personal note, the ending truly touched me. It was ten years ago I lost my dad the week before Christmas. This show is about family and memories and I found myself wiping away a tear as I missed my own dad by the end. 
Go see this show. You'll be so glad that you did!