Hey! Do you play guitar?

Here's a chance to be on stage, get paid, and still not have to "act":

Seeking great guitar player 21-30 for onstage band in the rock musical "F#*king Up Everything", which will be performed this summer at Woolly Mammoth from July 15 - Aug 14. Rehearsals begin June 24.

Guitar Player character has no lines, just needs to look cool and play great. Non-equity. Paid.

Send picture, resume, and mp3s to wowamilucky@yahoo.com.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Charlie Fink
Producing Artistic Director
http://newmusicalfoundation.org

Bernard sez: I can vouch for Charlie Fink. He's a good guy, and the show should be interesting. Plus you can't beat that title.

From "The Scotsman"

A newspaper in Scotland offers this report which may provide another context for Black Watch:

Police report massive rise in Scottish gay hate crime

Published Date: 06 February 2011
By Ben Archibald

HATE crimes against homosexuals in Scotland have risen almost fivefold in the past five years, shock new statistics have revealed.The statistics - gathered by a freedom of information request to Scotland's eight police forces - show a disturbing rise in reports of violent attacks, indecent assaults, abuse and vandalism against people targeted just because of their sexual orientation.

Figures show there were 666 incidents of homophobic abuse in 2009-10, almost double the 364 incidents reported in 2007-8, and almost five times the 114 incidents reported in 2004-5.

In Strathclyde, reported incidents have risen from 50 in 2004-5 to 286 last year, while in the Lothian and Borders area there was a rise from 45 to 167 over the same period.

Rights organisation Stonewall Scotland revealed that two thirds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people had been verbally abused in the past year, while a third had been physically attacked. The overall number of incidents is likely to be much higher as Stonewall said 61 per cent of victims did not report the crime to police.

The freedom of information statistics show that homosexuals have been abused or assaulted in their own homes, while eating in a restaurant, on public transport and while on a night out.

In one case, in the Central Scotland area, a lesbian and gay centre was set alight.

After a Stonewall Scotland campaign, police have been required to separately report incidents since March 2010.

However, the FoI figures pre-date the new laws. Carl Watt, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: Over a quarter of the people attacked told us they accept abuse and attacks as part of being LGBT in Scotland.

"Having said that we have a strong message from our police forces that crimes committed against people simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated."

Ian Latimer, chief constable of Northern Constabulary and spokesman on diversity for the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland, said: "Hate crime in any form is unacceptable."

And a Scottish Government spokesman added: "There is no room for complacency in this fight."

Molotov Update

Coincidentally, I just received this press release today. For Guignol fans only:

Molotov Theatre Group Premieres “Morgue Story” in US
Brazil’s Underground Grand Guignol Film Favorite Brought To Stage In English

Washington, DC (February 4, 2011) Molotov Theatre Group, America’s second-oldest Grand Guignol theatre, is proud to present the English language, US premiere stage adaptation of the Brazilian underground film hit “Morgue Story,” from March 3 through April 2, 2011 at 1409 Playbill Café (1409 14th Street NW, Washington, DC).

Showtimes are Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 8 PM. Tickets are available at the door for $20, or through the Molotov Theater Group Web site (www.molotovtheatre.org).

The cast of “Blood, Sweat & Fears” includes Luke Cieslewicz, Kevin Finkelstein, Dave Gamble, Genevieve James, Heather Whitpan and Alex Zavistovich.

“Morgue Story: Sangue, Baiacu e Quadrinhos” (“Morgue Story: Blood, Blowfish, and Comics”) is the latest production from Molotov Theatre Group, which won “Best Comedy” in 2007 and “Best Overall” n 2008 in the Capital Fringe Festival. The script for Morgue Story was adapted from the original screenplay by its author, Paulo Biscaia Filho, artistic director of Vigor Mortis, Brazil’s celebrated Grand Guignol-inspired theatre company. Filho also is a Professor in the Faculdade de Artes de Parana in Curitiba, Brazil.

In the script, a famous comic book artist, frustrated with her personal relationships, meets two weird men with equally weird lives. One is a perverted sociopathic coroner; the other is a chronically cataleptic insurance agent. They could only meet in one place: The morgue. (For more information on the film version of this production, see www.imdb.com/title/tt1358996.)

"I am really excited to see this first international production of Morgue Story,” said author Filho. “Molotov has all the humor and the right guts to make this the most fun play around."

Molotov’s Producing Artistic Director Lucas Maloney, who directed the group’s award-winning productions, takes the reins again for “Morgue Story.”

“This is an insanely dark comedy horror play that taps the limits of what even we at Molotov are capable of doing,” Maloney said. “I imagine most people will have never seen anything like this on stage. You’ll definitely need your plastic ponchos for this show.”

“Morgue Story” runs approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

Children will NOT be admitted under any conditions. Adult content includes nudity, profanity, and graphic depictions of murder, suicide and sexual violence. And one very hairy man with his shirt off.

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE EMOTIONALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPRESSIONABLE OR FOR PEOPLE WITH CARDIAC OR NERVOUS CONDITIONS.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR COUNTER-CULTURAL, UNDERGROUND AND CULT FANS WITH PROPERLY WORKING HEART AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS.

From today's Washington Post:

Anna Deavere Smith and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talk healthcare and booze

By The Reliable Source

Anna Deavere Smith chats with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 2011. (HHS photo by Chris Smith)

Here's something to make your lunch break a little more interesting: a performance by Anna Deavere Smith in the lobby of your office building.
Standing on a makeshift stage at the Independence Avenue headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services on Monday afternoon, the acclaimed actress/playwright performed excerpts of her one-woman show, "Let Me Down Easy," for about 200 employees and health experts (including Surgeon General Regina Benjamin), followed by a brief discussion on health care with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
"To say that the debate in this country has been volatile may be an understatement," said Sebelius.
"I think it's volatile everywhere," responded Smith.
Which makes it a perfect subject for the 60-year-old actress -- A-list provocateur, MacArthur "genius grant" recipient, professor and activist -- who's taking her look at health care (based on 300 interviews from doctors, patients and workers on three continents) beyond the confines of the theater. Plenty of VIPs (Sebelius, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Eric Holder, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan) have been to Arena Stage to see her perform, but Smith is also reaching into the community -- to HHS, National Institutes of Health, meetings with Hill staffers and policy experts -- to drum up even more debate on the hot-button issue.
After Smith's 30-minute performance and a standing ovation from the crowd, Sebelius played talk-show host to Smith, asking her to share the origins of the play, what she learned putting it together and the reactions in different parts of the country.
"You have the best questions," Smith praised her.
"No answers," quipped Sebelius dryly. "Lots of questions."
There was, Smith told her, one interesting difference between New York and D.C. audiences over a doctor's line about people who cope with tough issues using alcohol.
"New Yorkers didn't think that was funny," observed Smith. "In Washington, they think that's very funny. Do you all drink more?" The audience broke out in laughter.
"More than what?" asked Sebelius with a grin. "You would too, if you lived in Washington."