It's Not Bragging If I'm Unhappy, Right?

April showers bring May flowers, and when it rains, it motherlovin' pours. These are idioms to say that Spring has sprung and is quickly becoming the busiest season imaginable. Here's the 411 (note: that is not only a euphemism for 'information', but the number of projects I am working on simultaneously).

First thing's first, Hamlet Isn't Dead is making a movie! Slowly. But surely. Comedy of Errors is the next of Shakespeare canon for us to tackle, and eighth in our effort to produce them all. (#sevenshowsandamovie) Chelsea Lupkin is directing, as yours truly takes on a 'director of photography/assistant director/literally anything that needs to get done' role. Now that the weather's cleared, we're scheduling principal photography, and it's going to be...just swell. We're really excited to show off Travis Klemm and Nathan Luttrull as both Dromios and both Antipholi respectively. That's right! Due to the magic of theatre film talking pictures, we're able to condense the casting to not only one actor per pair of twins, but also only about thirty pages. It's gonna be quick, cute, and full of Spring!

Then, on May 17th, I'll be playing the part of Don Pedro in For Love and Duty Players' production of Much Ado About Nothing. My good friends Sam Morrice and Ross Hamman will rock it as Beatrice and Benedick, but there's a catch. This festival is called "Shake-in-a-day", which means we only have twenty-four hours of rehearsal before we go onstage in front of, what I can only assume will be, a ravenous audience. Now...my last endeavor into the realm of "twenty-four-hour Shakespearean challenges"...didn't go as smoothly as anticipated. But I'm sure this will be different. As soon as I learn my lines. Which I will totally do. Soon. ...I promise. I hope.

The biggest news, and the lede I'm totally burying, is my role in Sam Shepard's Cowboy Mouth in June. This is a bigger deal than I realized when I signed on, and it will receive its own blog post soon. Suffice it to say, it's one of the most challenging roles I've ever had to face, it will go up at the historic Chelsea Hotel, and...yes, Mom, it pays. Like...proper money. Proper adult job money. Not Harrison Ford money, yet, but it's a good step.

Then, Hamlet Isn't Dead keeps rolling along. We've got a birthday celebration coming up in June, Love's Labour's Lost goes up at WestBeth in July, and we've been asked to teach a Shakespeare workshop at the Pine Street School in August. The HID word is spreading, and the HID word is good.

This picture has nothing to do with anything;
there were just too many words without a picture break.
Ok. Continue.

In and among that, I've been seeing lots of theatre: most notably, Playing with Reality's Rocking Dead, starring the effortlessly brilliant Kevin Percival and a troupe of equally-amazing storytellers. It's an immersive dance party on a boat with zombies. I...really can't make it sound any more appealing than it already is. I don't even like to dance, and I had an outrageously good time. Please, if you're local, get your tickets to this experience. Run, don't walk. Then, when you're on the boat, walk again, because zombies have surprisingly acute hearing.

Megan and I also recently saw Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at Juilliard. It was directed by Stephen Wadsworth who directed me in the Figaro Plays at the McCarter last year, and who is most likely the closest living example of a genius I can cite. And I got to hug him! In fact, half the Princeton cast was there, and we all had a nice little mini-reunion. The opera was great, and it even used the exact same costumes and set pieces from our production. Talk about flashbacks. I kept shifting in my seat going 'That's my cue. Do I need to enter now? No...no, just watching. Sorry.'

I've also gotten back in the habit of writing. I'm on my way tonight to my first meeting with a Writer's Group, though I'm not sure what to anticipate. I'm bringing in a few pages that will be read aloud and discussed and...yeah, I'm more than nervous. I'm bringing them a copy of Forsythe, a sort of 19th century English romantic drama I've been working on. I'm also about to dive back into editing Attack! of the Killer Man from the Sun!, and I've just started a new piece about a football player who falls in love with a football. ...I need to find a better synopsis for that one, but, yeah, that's the gist. It's all about objectum-sexuality and Animism and I'm going to stop talking about it now.

I'm also working on a movie in May that has three Orange is the New Black stars signed on to it. And I'm doing fight choreography for two of Hudson Shakespeare's shows in July. Did I already make a 'when it rains it pours' reference? And it's not that there isn't lots of exciting things to say about both of those projects; it's just that I've only just remembered to add them to the list, and my fingers are starting to cramp.

Other than that, it's been Pathfinder with the Percivals (it's like D&D in a vaguely unidentifiably different way), teaching improv and creating controversy with Red Carpet Kids, and typing out excessively long blog posts as diary entries to remind me of the chronology of my extensive and confusing To Do List.

Hopefully some of this was enlightening or engaging. It's difficult to remember what I've talked about with whom, since I come by my busyness hereditarily. Many of the above topics will be receiving their own dedicated blog post sometime soon. Thank you all for your love and support. It's wonderful to hear from you, in big ways like phone calls and Skype sessions, and tiny ways like Facebook Likes and appearing in your dreams (you know who you are).

It's gonna be a busy season, but it looks like I might have some free time round about August. Who'd like to join the betting pool on how many days it'll take to fill that time slot? Good money's on yesterday.

Don't worry, I'm fine. This is just how I sleep now.

I'm David Andrew Laws, and I can be reached by:
E-mail - dandrewlaws@gmail.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/dandrewlaws
Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidandrewlaws
And for more information, you can visit davidandrewlaws.com (Under Maintenance! But still active)

Charity Chosen

Here are the facts:

1. Choosing a charity is hard. There are, first of all, just so many. Which is a good thing, I suppose, for the world. But also makes it a tricky step in my decision-making process. There are also many (oftentimes false) reports of charitable organizations misusing their funding. In a world where money is instantaneously exchanged and frequently intangible, we're sometimes too willing to part with our hard earned scratch. But fear not.

2. I chose a charity! It's called Art Start, and it's lovely. And you'd be lovely to donate to it. Maybe that's not so much of a fact, but it's still important.

     Founded in 1991, Art Start brings art to impoverished and homeless youths in New York City. At-risk students, and those who live in shelters, on the street, or any kind of hardship are provided with opportunities that may seem very simple, but are incredibly life-affirming. Art Start's programs foster confidence, creativity, and hope, and, like many other charities, they are virtually unheard of. Such is the peril of such a saturated market.

3. On Monday, I'll be reading Shakespeare aloud for twenty-four hours straight! I'll be joined by some of my best friends in the world, as well as a whole mess of strangers. The event will be streamed live here for all of your viewing and ridiculing desires. I really want to thank Facing Page Productions for setting up this event once more, and for letting me tackle such an obnoxiously large chunk of their festival.

I'm not all up in your business on purpose;
it's a genetic condition.

So where does this put you? Well, you have a few options. Here are the ones I'd suggest: You could...

A) Donate. It's a wonderful cause, and charity fundraising is something I've never before attempted. If this is successful, maybe I'll try my hand at it more often, which would mean a lot more good for the world in the long-run. Consider this an investment. Plus, it's totally tax deductible! If you're a procrastinator, that could still be relevant for you! If not, well...I'll try and remind you next year. Deal? For choice A, click here.

B) Participate. If you're going to be in the area and aren't busy, you should sign up to read a play or two. You can say hi on camera or just sit with us and have fun. Either way, you'd better do it quickly. The marathon just started, but I'm sure there are still some choice roles available. For choice B, click here.

C) Support. Regardless of which you've chosen, thank you for even clicking on this link in the first place. Again, the market is saturated; not only with charity organizations, but with fundraisers, theatrical events, and definitely blog posts. It means a lot that you even took a moment to look my way. If you could share this on Facebook or tell a friend or anything, really, that'd be just above and beyond. For choice C...there are buttons below, I think. That's really the one that takes a bit more of your own prerogative. Take it to the Facebook.

Or, hey, pick all three and be a real champ. I've chosen that path. And Clyde and Nancy Delk have graciously donated. Thank you both so much. More love and praise than I could ever accurately express.

Good luck and godspeed to all the other readers that begin their journey tonight. I'll be joining you soon, and then entering the annals of legend. And giggling at the word "annals", but that's neither here nor there. In fact, forget I said that, ignore that. It's not funny. (It's funny)

I'm David Andrew Laws, and I can be reached by:
E-mail - dandrewlaws@gmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dandrewlaws
Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidandrewlaws

And for more information, you can visit davidandrewlaws.com (Under Maintenance! But still active)

Seven Days 'til I'll Be Dead

Okay, maybe not "dead", but I'm sure I'll be feeling pretty damn close. That's right! It's time once more for me to join the ranks of people doing silly and extreme things not because they have to, not because it benefits them in any way, but just because I wanna. It's like naked skydiving in winter. It's time for Facing Page Production's Company Marathon Reading 2015.

Now, that is an amazingly long title, but the event itself justifies the lack of brevity. Starting on April 11th, the most eclectic assortment of literature nerds will amass in the Theatre District. From all over the city (or, who knows, the world!!) we will gather at 410 W. 47th St. for more than four full days of Shakespeare-y goodness. Full days. As in non-stop. As in...can't put it much more clearly than that actually, it just doesn't stop. Participants will be reading the works of Shakespeare aloud around the clock, and yours truly will be attempting to participate for a solid twenty-four hours.

*Facepalm*, meet *facebook*.
Facebook, don't sue me.

For my stint in 2014's Marathon, I pulled two separate all-nighters in order to read the roles I wanted. I was also performing in a show in New Jersey, matinees and all, so those were long days. But it was worth it. And this year, I believe, I've gone above and beyond. First of all, let's look at the schedule:

Monday 4/13

6:24pm Macbeth - Malcolm

8:21pm Measure for Measure - Angelo

10:35pm The Merchant of Venice - Ensemble/Launcelot Gobbo

Tuesday 4/14

12:42am The Merry Wives of Windsor - Master Frank Ford

2:45am Much Ado About Nothing - Benedick

4:47am Othello - Iago

7:35am Pericles - Simonedes

9:31am Richard II - Richard II

11:43am Richard III - Buckingham

2:38pm Romeo and Juliet - Mercutio

5:04pm The Taming of the Shrew - Petruchio

In case you've been living in a David-free zone for the past few years (and I will find you), Petruchio is possibly my favorite role in Shakespeare's canon. I've been fortunate enough to play him twice, but I can't (and won't. Aren't? Amn't? Woærn't.) forgo reading those wonderful words anytime soon. This, I imagine, will be the giddiest I've ever played him, which is saying something. Sleep deprivation will do that to a guy.

I tried not to hoard all of the protagonists, and succeeded moderately in that respect. Launcelot Gobbo's just a fun clown-y bit, and I have no idea who Simonedes even is (or how to say it). It was tempting to take Romeo and end on three roles I've already done -- I may even still be off-book for Buckingham -- but I'm content. Again, reading Mercutio with the alacrity granted only by the joy of sleeplessness should be a blast.

Pictured: last year's alacrity.

But, as I've gotten older, I've started to wean myself off of doing something for nothing. I mean that both in the very self-centered way it initially sounds, and also the...other way...the not self-centered way. That's why this marathon reading will be not only a massive artistic endeavor, but a philanthropic one as well. I will be live-streaming the entirety of my "performance" in order to raise money for charity. There are only two hurdles I have to overcome:

1. I can't decide what charity to raise for.

2. I don't know how to live-stream an event in order to raise money for charity.

Yeah...as of the publication of this blog, I don't actually know how any of it works. The model off of which I'm working is that of several video game vloggers, Let's Play-ers and the like, but they've been working through a specific website and program called Twitch.tv. And for the life of me, I can't find an equivalent for something not-video game-related. But I've only got a week to figure it out, and I am tenacious when it comes to deadlines. Still, if anyone has any advice, experience, or expertise, please feel free to reach out.

To summarize, this is a multiple call-to-action. You should:

-Join me for as much or as little of the Marathon Reading as you can (Sign up Here)

-Tune into the Live Stream (#daviddoesshakespeare)

-Donate if you can, Share either way (More details to follow)

-Wish me luck (Seriously)

I've pulled all-nighters before, but this is going to be a special kind of emotionally-rampant roller coaster, and I'm excited to see who's along for the ride. I'm expecting new friends, old acquaintances, and everyone in between. (Except members of Actor's Equity; not allowed to film them. Oh! Also, I forgot to mention. In addition to reading two of my favorite leading men, Petruchio and Benedick, I get to do so across from the lovely and talented (and lovely!) Megan Greener! So if you've ever wondered about what the chemistry between those two would be like, this'll be your chance.

Warning: The excess of cuteness may lead to diabetic shock.

Also, she'll be there to make sure I get home safely, so...everyone can rest a little more easily there. But there's my quick 800-word update. Thank you all for your time, attention, support and love. See you when I see you, and May the Bard Be With You!

I'm David Andrew Laws, and I can be reached by:
E-mail - dandrewlaws@gmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dandrewlaws
Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidandrewlaws

And for more information, you can visit davidandrewlaws.com (Under Maintenance! But still active)

First Step: Admittance

Seriously! I mean, $36? That's ridiculous! What, do I look like I was created from currency?

...g-...get it? It's "Admittance", like...like an entry fee....? Oh, wait, I'm thinking of admission. Or admittance, like how easily an electrical current flows, which just adds layers to the currency joke above...except that it doesn't. And we're off to a roaring start.

Guys, I have a blog problem. I love to create them, but I do so in the same way I keep journals: I'll start it, inevitably lose track of it, and no one will read it either way. This one's just less pink and flowery than the others. Er-....

I mean, manly. Manly bacon book.

But for whatever reason, starting a new blog, even temporarily, gives me a modicum of catharsis. It's an identifiable point on the path of my life where I could (theoretically) look back and say "Yup, that's where I got everything in order. Starting doing things on a daily basis. Stopped flashing people for spare change."

But none of my blogs have ever lasted, and I'm not expecting this one to, either. I'm definitely not expecting to update it daily, that's just too much pressure. Maybe I'll have one of those moments someday, or maybe I won't. Maybe I watch too many movies, which warp my expectations. Maybe too many movies watch me. Maybe my arguments start to get weird when I get defensive. Whatever. No, you watch a movie!

This is, in essence, my birthday reflection that I owed myself. I turned twenty-five back on March 20th, and it was a scary birthday for me. I've always worked twenty-five up in my mind to be, again, that cosmological turning point that...it just can't be. Or shouldn't be. That's not fair to the occasion or to myself.

I approached this birthday comparing myself to figures from the past. At age twenty-five (in the year of my birth, oddly enough), J.K. Rowling was conceptualizing the Harry Potter series. By twenty-five, David Bowie had produced five studio albums. Hell, Charlie Chaplin had already appeared in thirty-five films! Orson Welles was doing his whole Citizen Kane thing. Benoit Fourneyron invented a new type of waterwheel turbine! The waterwheel turbine, people!!

Pictured: Better than me.

But that wasn't, and isn't, a healthy way to go looking at things, because I'm not any of those people. I'm the guy who at twenty-five is the Artistic Director of a theatre company in New York City. I'm the guy who's written 154 sonnets and a (hilarious!) Sci-Fi play. I'm the guy who's in a YouTube video with over 22 million views. Please, Lord, don't let that be my fifteen minutes of fame.

Unfortunately, I'm also the guy who was just dropped by his manager, who hasn't gotten anything he's written published, whose theatre company is constantly in need of more money, *hint hint*, and who struggles on a daily basis to even get out of bed in the morning. Or early afternoon. Whichever.

There's still a lot that I want to accomplish, and maybe some of that will or won't get done while I'm twenty-five. Maybe some of it won't get done at all. But then maybe some of it I'll get done tomorrow. Or...well, no, probably not tomorrow, cause tomorrow's a Friday, but-...you get the gist.

The moral of this post is, I have a blog problem. But the blog problem is sometimes a Band-Aid (TM,  y'all) for the bigger problems. So if you're reading this and relating, feel free to let me know how you're dealing with things as well. Or not dealing. Dealing or Not Dealing, coming to literally everyone all the time.

I had also escaped the grasp of Facebook for a while, but returned for a variety of reasons. So a lot of people didn't realize my birthday had come and gone. Which sucked, because for a lot of people, that's the one time out of the year I hear from them. Thus, if you're realizing we haven't spoken in a while, feel free to wish me a happy belated birthday. Maybe it'll spark that one annual conversation we've missed. I'm feeling a distinct lack of platitudes in my day-to-day.

Either way, thank you all for reading, and supporting. I'm going to try to return to this blog in the future, but who knows? This could be the turning-point, or it could be a one-off. Really, only time will tell.

I'm David Andrew Laws, and I can be reached by:
E-mail - dandrewlaws@gmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dandrewlaws
Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidandrewlaws

And for more information, you can visit davidandrewlaws.com (Under Maintenance!)