#xavier theatre company

[bestmusicalworldcup]

The drag-ball reimagining of Cats (officially titled Cats: The Jellicle Ball) now has its full cast with the following newly announced cast members: Xavier Reyes as Jennyanydots, Bebe Nicole Simpson as Demeter, and Dava Huesca as Rumpleteazer, along with understudy Shelby Griswold.

Previously announced cast members from the world of ballroom include Baby as Victoria, Dudney Joseph Jr. as Munkustrap, Capital Kaos as DJ, Junior LaBeija as Gus, Robert "Silk" Mason as Mistoffelees, "Tempress" Chasity Moore as Grizabella, and Primo as Tumblebrutus, along with understudies Dominique Lee and Kendall G. Stroud.

Previously announced musical theatre and dance names in the company include Jonathan Burke as Mungojerrie, Emma Sofia Caymares as Skimbleshanks, André De Shields as Old Deuteronomy, Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger, Antwayn Hopper as Macavity, Shereen Pimentel as Jellylorum, Nora Schell as Bustopher Jones, Garnet Williams as Bombalurina, and Teddy Wilson Jr. as Sillabub. Rounding out the company will be ensemble members Tara Lashan Clinkscales and Frank Viveros.

The production is directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.

Performances begin June 13 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, with opening night set for June 20. Closing night is July 14.

[gonecontinental]

Day 0.5 to 1 - June 10th & 11th - Sydney

I flew into Sydney yesterday morning and was kindly collected from the airport by my gracious hosts Mandisa and Xavier. It was so great to see them after a long time apart and we had a beautiful and relaxing afternoon wandering Newtown, preparing for their friends 30th birthday party at the local pub. At the party, we had a great time chatting and drinking. While tipsy, we spontaneously booked the last 3 tickets to the Sydney Film Festival for the showing of the new Warwick Thornton movie New Boy.

When we got up today, we didn't have many plans beyond the movie and potentially seeing my friend sam in the afternoon. Despite this, the day unfolded like a russian doll of experiences - it just kept opening up on itself. We had a lazy morning big breakfast with avo on toast with all the trimmings then set off on a postcard perfect day in Sydney.

We took the train to the city and strolled from circular quay to the botanical gardens. We put $2 in a pair of tourist binoculars and looked at the boats bobbing along the harbour and the detail of the tiles on the opera house. The intricacy of the tiles was so arresting, my mind couldn't help but see the similarity between the thousands of sleek tiles and snakeskin. We stopped for coffee in the botanical garden cafe before wandering through the Fern Garden and moving on to Hyde Park, on the way to the State theatre for showing.

The theatre is unbelievably grand in the true sense of the word. I spent a solid minute in my seat with my head back on the velvet backrest, staring at chandelier and ornate latticework of the ceiling. The movie was poignant and beautifully shot with thought provoking themes surrounding colonisation and spirituality. Walking out of the stalls into the side alleyway, we saw the charmingly painted sign with the old school design of the finger pointing to "Stage Door" and paintings of old production company posters, which i loved.

After the movie we wandered to Chinatown for some dumplings and ran into one of Xav's old friends, who joined us for a late lunch. When we finished our noodles and dumplings we had a little shop in the Winter sale for hiking gear for Disa and Xav's upcoming Larapinta trail hike.

Walking back, we detoured via Darling Harbour as the sun was setting and Xavier suggested we hop on a ferry to watch the sunset from the harbour. A capital idea if there ever was one. We had a wonderful sightseeing experience as the ferry did "upsy-downsies" (as a little kid on board called them), and the lights of luna park twinkled against the darkening sky.

Hopping off the ferry, Vivid Sydney was starting and I was, to be honest, a bit surprised by the quality and how fun the experience was. We met up with my old friend Sam and his girlfriend Ange near "the big white star" installation and had a delightful time moving through the markets, under the bridge and past The Rocks. There were so many highlights. I loved seeing a wonderful spherical design projected into a fountain of water. Best of all, though, was the company. We laughed and shot the breeze against a beautiful backdrop of the city illuminated with an extra layer of brightness and art.

Heading home, our feet were tired but our spirits were high. It was the best first full day of the trip I could ask for. I loved, and there is very little hyperbole in this statement, every moment.

Particularly this moment, in which i turn on my audiobook and turn off the light, getting some needed rest before a huge day of travel. Tomorrow, it's Kowabunga, dude, let's do this. Tonight, it's sweet dreams.

[heavenboy09]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 to The  Distinguished Talented Actor Of England 🇬🇧 Of Our Time and Century.

Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield on 13 July 1940, the son of Gladys (née Barrowclough), a weaver and textile worker, and Alfred Stewart (1905–1980), a regimental sergeant major in the British Army during the Second World War who later worked as a general labourer and postman. He has two older brothers named Geoffrey (born 1933) and Trevor (born 1935)

In 1966, Stewart became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He made his Broadway theatre debut in 1971 in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 1979, he received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Antony and Cleopatra in the West End. His first television role was in the Coronation Street in 1967. His first major screen roles were in Fall of Eagles (1974), I, Claudius (1976), and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979). In 2008 he played King Claudius in Hamlet and received his second Olivier Award and his first Tony Award nomination for respectively the West End and Broadway theatre productions.

Stewart gained stardom for his leading role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–94), its subsequent films, and Star Trek: Picard (2020–23). 

He gained further stardom when he portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series (2000–2014), Logan (2017), and an alternate version of the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

Please This Legendary Distinguished English 🇬🇧 Actor Whose Acting Career Has Spanned Over 7 Decades, A Very Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊

YOU KNOW HIM, YOU LOVE HIM & YOU GOTTA ADORE HIS LEGENDARY ACTING

THE 1

&

THE ONLY

SIR PATRICK STEWART AKA  PROFESSOR CHARLES XAVIER AND CAPTAIN JEAN LUC PICARD OF THE STARSHIP, ENTERPRISE.  👨‍🚀🚀🌌🇻🇬

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR PATRICK 🙏 ☺ 🎂 #PatrickStewart #SirPatrickStewart #ProfessorX #JeanLucPicard

[peachandpineapple]

DISNEY ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIA’S BELLE AND BEAST

The Walt Disney Company is thrilled to announce the two exceptional performers that have been cast in the lead roles of Belle and the Beast when Beauty and the Beast makes its Australian premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in June 2023.

Shubshri Kandiah (Belle) and Brendan Xavier (Beast) will bring the iconic roles to life in this new production from the producers of Frozen, Aladdin, The Lion King and Mary Poppins.

Shubshri is one of Australia’s most exciting new leading ladies, best known for her role as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and currently playing the title role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Sydneysider Brendan is a talented newcomer currently performing in Frozen the Musical which was his first professional musical theatre role.

Read the full story: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/rising-stars-of-theatre-win-iconic-lead-roles-ins-disneys-new-production-of-beauty-and-the-beast/news-story/4b1aede6957284fb5ceabb964816a830

[catholicartistsnyc]

Meet: Emily Claire Schmitt

EMILY CLAIRE SCHMITT is a NYC-based playwright. (www.emilyclaireschmitt.com and Twitter: @Eclaire082)

CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION (CAC): What brought you to NYC?

EMILY CLAIRE SCHMITT (ECS): I'm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and I did my undergrad at Saint Mary's College in Indiana.  I always hoped to move to New York and I was fortunate that a few things fell into place for me when I graduated.  I was accepted into the New School for Drama's MFA program directly from undergrad.  I had applied to schools all over the country, and this happened to be both my top choice and only acceptance letter.  My college boyfriend's family is from Staten Island, so he moved back home and we were able to stay together.  Now that boyfriend is my husband, so I'm here to stay.

CAC: What do you see as your personal mission as a Catholic working in the arts?

ECS: First off, I love this question.  I think about this a lot, and I always try to pray a bit before I start writing, even if what I'm working on isn't an overtly religious piece.  I believe that God wants to be present with us as we grapple with the world and, while I don't let religious doctrines limit the content of my writing, my writing is always filtered through a worldview that God exists.  

A great deal of my art is critical of the institutional Church, but I'm still very insistent that I am a Catholic writer, as opposed to a formerly Catholic writer. There is a fundamental difference between someone who critiques from within and someone who has left the Church and is describing the experience that caused them to leave.  This distinction is supremely important to me.

I believe my vocation as a writer is to be a tool for God to express Themself in the world.  Sometimes this means representing the beauty of God's world, but more often than not it means shining light on that which is not in alignment with the Divine, whether within secular society or within the Church.  I hope that my work makes both religious and secular people uncomfortable.  I hope it makes them wonder what God thinks about them.

CAC: Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist?

ECS: I've been extremely fortunate to have made great connections with fellow Catholics in the arts.  I've worked with Xavier Theatre and Film, a Jesuit theater company, and they produced a showcase of my play "The Chalice" at the Stonewall Inn.  This was one of the highlights of my career thus far, an intersection of the Catholic and secular world that was truly fulfilling.

CAC: Where have you found support among your fellow artists for your Catholic faith?

ECS: It's a mixed bag.  Grad school was not a positive experience for me in terms of acceptance. After 16 years of Catholic education, I was suddenly in a secular world and I made a lot of mistakes in terms of how I presented myself.  I was wrestling with my faith privately, but fiercely defending it publicly, which is never a good tactic.  I didn't feel safe.  I no longer work with anyone from grad school, and that's best for all of us.

However, post graduation I have really found an artistic community with people of all faiths.  I have frequent collaborators who are non-Catholic Christians, members of other faiths, atheists, and agnostics.  I've found a particular home with The Skeleton Rep, a theater company that focuses on "building modern myth."  My religious beliefs really mesh with their interests, despite being a completely secular company.  I am currently developing a musical with them. 

CAC: How can the Church be more welcoming to artists?

ECS: Stop policing our content.  The vocation of an artist is to observe, critique, and respond.  It is not the vocation of the artist to simply listen and accept doctrine without question.  This means that there is an essential tension between the work of being an artist and the work of being a practicing Catholic.

As an artist, I don't have the luxury of keeping my disagreements with the Church private. I promise I'm listening and it's possible to change my mind. Please be patient with me.

CAC: How can the artistic world be more welcoming to artists of faith?

ECS: I think this is a difficult question because in most of the instances where people have been unwelcoming to me, it's because they have been hurt in some serious way by the Church.  It's taken me a long time to accept that, while I have not personally hurt them, I am part of an institution that has and it's not unreasonable for them to ask me to answer for that.

I try to be clear about my beliefs and about why I have chosen to remain in the Church.  I also try to articulate how I'm striving to make the Church better, while remaining firm in my support of Her.  I have to be both gentle and unafraid about how and why I disagree with the secular world as well.  Once again, I promise I'm listening and it's possible to change my mind.  Please be patient with me.

CAC: Where in NYC do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

ECS: I'm a bit of a parish hopper.  When I first came to NYC I fell in love with Saint Francis Xavier, near Union Square.  Their Young Adults Group was a great community for me, but after moving to Brooklyn and back I'm not as involved as I once was.  I've become more interested in traditional, more formal, liturgies. Saint Joseph of Yorkville is a beautiful neighborhood parish that has a highly reverent modern mass.  There are so many families with children there, it gives me great hope.  And the pastor is the man who reported on McCarrick so that's no small thing.... I like a priest I can respect, for obvious reasons.

When I'm feeling in particular need of deep ritual, I do love a Latin Mass. Saint Agnes by Grand Central is a great place to go for that. 

CAC: Where in NYC do you regularly find artistic fulfillment?

ECS: I already mentioned The Skeleton Rep, but one thing they do which I love are monthly artist salons.  Artists will get together, drink wine, and read new work, either a full play or short plays based on a prompt.  There is no formal feedback, just a chance for the writer to hear her play.  And afterwards we have a party.

CAC: How have you found or built community as a Catholic artist living in NYC?

ECS: Connecting with Brother Joe Hoover at Xavier Theater has really connected me with a great community of Catholic artists.  He has a way of making connections and bringing together a dynamic and diverse group of people with a huge variety of perspectives on the faith.  If you ever get the chance to work with them I highly recommend it.  Joe is a fantastic playwright and actor in his own right.

CAC: What is your daily spiritual practice?

ECS: I wish I had a better one...  I pray every day before I write.  My husband and I pray together before meals.  Recently, we've been doing a daily reflection before bed.  It's just one of those Little Blue Books you pick up from your parish during Advent, but it's been great.

CAC: What is your daily artistic practice? And what are your recommendations to other artists for practicing their craft daily?

ECS: I try to write for an hour every morning after working out and before leaving for work. This is really my sacred time: after my husband leaves, freshly showered, and place to myself.  It's short but it's extremely important.  And I can't stress enough the value of praying before you write. 

CAC: Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist. What happened, and what brought you the most joy?

ECS: The most recent Skeleton Rep salon was on New Year's Eve.  I wrote a short piece for the event which spoke of my Catholic faith and it's relationship to the mission of the company.  Afterwards, another artist present pulled me aside to talk about how he is a Catholic as well but had stopped going to Church.  He was interested in going back, so we spent a long time talking about why I felt it was important for young Catholic artists to be in the faith and engage with it from the inside.  The whole conversation was so fulfilling for me. 

CAC: You actually live in NYC? How!?

ECS: I need to be completely up front and say that I have been incredibly privileged in terms of financial support from my family.  This is something we do not talk about enough in the arts.  My parents paid my rent and my tuition while I was in school and I am debt-free.  I'm also married to someone with a traditional career who contributes the majority of our income.  I am so incredibly fortunate it's not even funny.  

CAC: But seriously, how do you make a living in NYC?

ECS: Even with the financial support, I do have a full-time day job.  I don't know how anyone would make rent or buy groceries without one.  I work in social media marketing, which is great because it's mostly all remote.  I've also been nannying for my cousin's baby so making that sweet side cash.

It's a lot of work, and keeping my passion afloat on top if it, and making sure it remains my focus rather than just a "hobby" is a constant battle.

CAC: How much would you suggest artists moving to NYC budget for their first year?

ECS: I can't give a great answer to this, because it's so varied and I was in school when I started.  But consider that your monthly rent is likely to be over 1K no matter where you live.

CAC: What other practical resources would you recommend to a Catholic artist living in NYC?

ECS: I can't recommend enough reaching out to Xavier Theater for professional connections.  In terms of headshots, Joe Loper is a former classmate of mine who does a great job and is very reasonable. http://joeloper.com/

CAC: What are your top 3 pieces of advice for Catholic artists moving to NYC?

ECS: 1.) Don't rush finding your people.  It's a big city and it takes time.

2.) Exercise.

3.) Go to confession.  Why make art with sin on your soul?

[k-18-news]

14 Bollywood Artists who didn’t finish college and decided to join the film industry

We have been captivated by some well-known Bollywood stars. We are intrigued by their early years, as they made a lasting impression on B’Town. It’s surprising to discover that these celebrities who are highly paid have not graduated from college

We have compiled a list of Bollywood stars who achieved great success despite not having attended college.

1. Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt started her movie career shortly after graduating from Mumbai’s Jamnabai Narsee School. In 2012, Alia Bhatt became an actor in the film Student of the Year. She didn’t go to college. Alia didn’t receive any education beyond High school.

2. Aamir Khan

Aamir finished his 12th Grade at Narsee Monjee College and then dropped out. The actor soon joined a theatre company, and he began full-time acting. As a 16-year-old, he appeared in Paranoia and was an assistant director for his uncle Nasir Hussain. This celebrity hasn’t looked back since then.

3. Deepika Padukone

Deepika was a model, and she stopped playing badminton. She attended Mount Carmel High School, her hometown. After graduating from Mount Carmel High School, she went on to study sociology at the Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) and has a Bachelor of Arts. To help her modeling career, she dropped out of college.

4. Priyanka Chopra

Former Miss World wanted to become a criminal psychologist. Bareilly’s Army Public School was where she completed her education. Priyanka had to leave Jai Hind College, Mumbai in order to pursue her modeling career.

5. Akshay Kumar

Akshay completed his education at Mumbai’s Don Bosco High School. He was enrolled at Guru Nanak Khalsa College but left to become a chef and learn the martial arts. He returned to India and began acting.

6. Kangana Ranaut

Kangana graduated from DAV Chandigarh. Kangana wanted to become a doctor and pursued a career as a physician. After failing an exam, she decided to change her mind and go into modeling. Then she landed in B-town as an actress.

7. Katrina Kaif

Katrina’s mom was involved in social services and the family had to travel to different countries and migrate on a regular basis. The actress was home-schooled with a number of tutors and never went to school. She started modeling at a young age and was never able to finish school.

8. Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir was awarded 54% in his 10th Grade. Ranbir walked up and told his parents that he did not want to continue his education. Ranbir didn’t graduate high school. However, he did spend some time studying filmmaking in New York. It was his diploma that mattered.

9. Kareena Kapoor Kan

Bebo attended Mumbai’s Jamnabai Narsee School, and later Welham Girls School. She had hoped to study law at Mithibai College but decided to model instead.

10. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya originally intended to study medicine but changed her mind and enrolled at Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture. She gave up on her plans to become an architecture professor in favor of modeling.

11. Salman Khan

Salman was educated at Scindia School, Gwalior, and then St. Stanislaus High School Mumbai. He enrolled in St. Xavier’s College Mumbai but later dropped out for personal reasons.

12. Tiger Shroff

Junior Shroff graduated from the American School of Bombay. He didn’t want to go to college. The actor ended his 12th Grade and began modeling immediately.

13. Arjun Kapoor

Arjun attended Mumbai’s Arya Vidya Mandir School for his education. After failing his 12th-grade board exam, he dropped out of school.

14. Kajol Devgan

Kajol graduated from St. Joseph’s High school in Panchgani. At the age of 17, she began her career as an actor. The actor was unable to finish her high school education.

Visit Us For more Useful Link :- Bollywood news latest

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[papermoonloveslucy]

ROUGH ROAD TO TOP

August 16, 1953

(1)

One of the more famous CBS-TV shows is “I Love Lucy.” 

Its two chief characters - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz - have had a rocky road to their present status as one of the top comedy teams in the country. 

At the end of Lucille's first year in dramatic school she was told by her teachers that she was wasting her time and money, that she would never become an actress. She was fired from all four of her first jobs as a chorus girl. Later, as a model, she almost lost her life in an automobile accident and was told she would never walk again. 

Revolution Factor 

It was a revolution in Cuba and a mishap in World War II which were fateful turns in Arnaz’ trip to stardom. The Cuban revolution destroyed his family’s wealth, drove them to the United States. World War II got him a broken kneecap in basic training, and since he had been a professional entertainer, he was placed in limited service and assigned to entertain hospitalized G.I.s'. 

Columbia Pictures gave Lucille a contract as a stock player, and, convinced that her luck finally had turned, she sent for mother, grandfather, and sister to join her in California. But, the morning after she wired her family, the studio decided to dissolve its stock company. When the family arrived, Lucille was working as an extra at Paramount.

Bit parts and extra roles in a number of pictures kept Lucille busy, but not prosperous, until she was cast in ’"Roberta.” RKO officials, impressed by her work, gave her a contract. When not busy before the cameras, she was a mainstay of the studio's Little Theater. (2)

Offered Stage Lead 

Her performance in the second lead in “The Girl from Paris" (3) drew Broadway's attention to Miss Ball and she was offered a lead in the musical "Hey Diddle Diddle.” After satisfying her yen to perform on the Great White Way (4), she returned to Hollywood for "Stage Door” and “Too Many Girls.” In the latter picture, she was costarred with Desi Arnaz. They were married Nov. 30 1940 in Greenwich, Conn.

Back from her honeymoon, Lucille walked into her first really big break a role in "The Big Street,” based on a story by Damon Runyon (5). Overnight it made her a star. 

Her first assignment at M.G.M. in 1942 was the title role in the Technicolor production "Du Barry Was a Lady” (6). Stellar roles followed in "Best Foot Forward” and "Meet the People" (7). After completing "Easy to Wed” with Van Johnson (8), she headed for New York to be with her husband, then out of the army and on his way to success in the orchestra business. 

Starred on Tour

Shortly after completing "Her Husband’s Affairs,” (9) Miss Ball went on tour as star of Elmer Rice's play "Dream Girl” (10) then worked with Sonny Tufts and Victor Mature in "Interference” for R.K.O. (11)

Lucille, Desi, arid their year-old daughter Lucy Desiree, live at Desilu, their five-acre ranch at Chatsworth, Calif. They raise cattle, chickens, dogs, and cats and dabble in farming. Enthusiastic fishermen they spend a lot of time on their boat.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha was born in Santiago, Cuba, son of the mayor. Desi’s mother, Dolores de Acha, was considered among the 10 most beautiful women In Latin America. 

Three ranches totaling 100,000 acres, a palatial home in the city, a private island in Santiago Bay, speedboats, a fleet of motor cars, and a racing stable were all at the command of the youthful Desi during the pre-revolutionary days. His father, after eight years as mayor of Santiago, was made a member of the Cuban congress In 1932. 

On Aug. 12, 1933, came the revolution. Congress was dissolved. Its members jailed. The Arnaz property was confiscated, the homes burned to the ground. In 24 hours everything was gone except $500 Desi's mother had hidden. Desi and mother fled to Miami, devoted the next six months to efforts to free Papa Arnaz.  from prison. They were finally reunited in Florida.

For Desi, life in these United States for several years was hard but interesting: he worked at truck driving, train yard checking, taxi driving, bookkeeping, and, of all things, bird cage cleaning. Desi’s father managed to launch an importing business. It went broke when a shipment of fruit spoiled in transit.

Show business at this point finally caught up with Desi. His first job was playing guitar and singing with a seven-piece rhumba band at Miami’s Roney-Plaza Hotel (12). Xavier Cugat (13) spotted him, was impressed with this Cuban boy who was to be dubbed "The Tempo” by critics of modem music. After a year as featured vocalist with the Cugat band, Desi organized his own group of musicians and moved into the swank La Conga Café in Miami (14). 

George Abbott's Broadway hit "Too Many Girls” (15) was Desi’s next step up the ladder, in 1939. He played a Cuban football player, one of the leads, and played tropical drums. RKO bought the film rights and signed Desi to play his stage role. When the shooting was over Desi married the leading lady, Lucille Ball.

He spent from Feb. 1943 to Nov. 1945 in the Army, after which he toured the nation with his band playing theaters, dances, night clubs. He hasn’t been without a band since. In 1948, Desi made the Columbia film "Holiday in Havana.” (16)

He made a vaudeville tour with Lucille Ball and that convinced them they’d do well as a husband-and-wife team on television. The tour inspired the CBS-TV show “I Love Lucy,” which has been highly rated since it started. (17)

Desi Arnaz’s personality is as vibrant as the music he makes. He is friendly, direct in manner, has flashing dark brown eyes and brown hair. He’s an avid fisherman, rides and swims expertly: his tennis is the envy of his San Fernando Valley neighbors, Sue and Alan Ladd, Francis Lederer, Jackie Oakie, and the Andrews Sisters. (18) A good cook, he specializes in such tempting dishes as Ginger Beef and Bouillabaisse.

#    #    #

FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) The photo is from “Be a Pal” (ILL S1;E2) aired on October 22, 1951, nearly two years earlier.  There’s one thing missing from this file photo: Vivian Vance. The success of the show was its foursome, not threesome! If you look closely you can see the hands of the other poker players, Richard Reeves (Hank, left) and Tony Michaels (Charlie, right).

(2) Lucille did several plays at the RKO Little Theatre under the direction of Lela Rogers (above), Ginger’s mom.  When Lucille later bought RKO, she dubbed it the Desilu Playhouse, a training ground for new young performers, often hand selected by Ball herself. 

(3) “That Girl from Paris” (not “The” as the article states) was Lucille’s 33rd film. The light-hearted musical romance earned an Oscar nomination for Sound Recording. It was released on the first day of 1937. 

(4) Lucille was indeed cast in the Broadway-bound comedy (it was not a musical, however) “Hey Diddle Diddle!” It opened in Princeton, New Jersey, the first of several out-of-town stops on the way to Broadway.  What Lucille’s publicity omits is that the show never got further than Washington DC due to the serious illness of its leading man, Conway Tearle. So Lucy’s Broadway debut would have to wait - until 1960!

(5) “The Big Street” opened on September 4, 1942. It was based on a Damon Runyan short story about a night club singer (Lucille) embittered by an accident that left her in a wheelchair and her romance with a naïve admirer (Henry Fonda) named Pinks. Lucy later said it was her favorite of the many films she made.  It was her 55th film. 

(6) “Du Barry Was A Lady” premiered in August 1943. It was Lucille’s  57th film, but her first for MGM.  She nabbed the role from her friend Ethel Merman, who had done the Cole Porter musical comedy on Broadway.  It was filmed in color, and was the film that earned her the nickname “Technicolor Tessie” because of her bright orange hair - a color she committed to from then on, despite her roots!  This is the film that introduced Lucy to the song “Friendship”, which she would also sing on “I Love Lucy.” 

(7) In the musical comedy “Best Foot Forward” (1943) Lucille Ball played herself.  It was her 58th film. “Meet The People” (1944) was a romantic comedy for MGM, Ball’s 60th film. 

(8) In 1946 she released her 63rd film, “Easy To Wed” co-starring Van Johnson and Esther Williams. Lucille and Van had appeared together in “Too Many Girls” and he would appear on Lucy’s television shows. 

(9) “Her Husband’s Affairs” (1947) was a romantic farce with Lucy teamed with Franchot Tone. It was her 69th film. 

(10) Back to the stage, Lucille accepted the leading role in a revival tour of “Dream Girl” a fantasy comedy by Elmer Rice. Once again, the play launched in Princeton, but this time Broadway was not the goal. It had already played the Great White Way two years earlier. The play toured the country at select cities, landing Lucille back in California in late 1947. In one SoCal gig she was appearing simultaneously with Desi and his band just a few blocks away.  No doubt this was by design. 

(11) RKO’s “Interference” was re-named “Easy Living” (1949) and dealt with the world of professional sports, namely football. It co-starred Victor Mature and Sonny Tufts. It was Ball’s 71st film. 

(12) The luxurious Roney Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach was located on the corner of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street. It opened in 1925 and was demolished in 1968. The resort attracted a who's who that included Hollywood stars and even the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The hotel's Bamboo Room & Restaurant was the place to be seen on the Beach for decades.

(13) Xaviar Cugat (1900-1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City he was the leader of the resident orchestra at the Waldorf–Astoria before and after World War II.  He was a mentor and friend to Desi Arnaz, who kept his name before the public by making him a rival of Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” where his name became a punchline. In reality, Desi was grateful to Cugat, not jealous of him! 

“I learned a lot from Xavier Cugat” ~ Desi Arnaz

(14) La Conga Café was located in New York City, not Miami, although the article may be referring to a different, lesser known establishment where Desi Arnaz performed.  He became a regular headliner at La Conga, even issuing a record titled “La Conga” in 1939. 

(15) Speaking of 1939 New York, Desi appeared in his only Broadway show in 1939, Rogers and Hart’s “Too Many Girls.”  When the film rights were purchased by RKO, Desi was hired by director George Abbott to recreate his role. It was while filming this movie that he met Lucille Ball. 

(16) “Holiday in Havana” was a Columbia picture released in October 1949.  The film is about a Cuban hotel busboy (Arnaz) who dreams of becoming a composer.  His love interest was not Lucy, but Mary Hatcher. 

(17) The Tour incorporated some of the same routines seen in the “I Love Lucy” pilot as well as early episodes of the series, most notably the “Cuban Pete / Sally Sweet” duet.  The tour culminated at the Roxy in New York City, where Desi was playing when he married Lucille in 1940. 

(18) Before moving to their Beverly Hills mansion, Lucy and Desi lived on a ranch in Chatsworth in San Fernando Valley. They dubbed their ranch home Desilu.  About their neighbors: 

Alan Ladd (1913-64) was a chorus boy when Lucille was an Earl Carroll showgirl in Murder at the Vanities (1934). He was married to Sue Carol (1906-82) from 1942 until his death. Carol’s name was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “The Fashion Show” when Lucy selects the same Don Loper original that Carol has chosen to wear in the fashion show. She does not appear on screen. 

Francis Lederer (1899-2000) was a Hungarian-born actor. In 1960 he did an episode of Desilu’s “The Untouchables”. From 1941 until his death he was married to Marion Irvine. 

Jackie Oakie (1903-78) did four films with Lucille Ball between 1934 and 1938, including both “Annabell” movies. 

The Andrews Sisters were the pre-eliminant close-harmony girl group of their time. The consisted of Patty, Maxine, and LaVerne. They were mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “Be a Pal” in the same scene that the photo at the top of the article came from. In 1969, Patty Andrews guest-starred as herself on “Here’s Lucy”.  Lucy and Lucie played the other two Andrews sisters. 

[reversecreek]

✵ zloane , bravier , nyla and sean

ZIGGY & SLOANE

their first impression of your muse:

sexy. tugged on her hair literally the first time he saw her hadn’t even had a conversation bt was just like target? located. going? ✈️ annoy her. probably initially just thought she was only at the skate park bc sean was n was like 🙄 then she cld actually skate n he was like 😏 liked that she gave him shit. found it funny pushing her buttons. liked her eyes. probably was like wtf is in the fuckin water in this town yo why all my friends got hot sisters that shit aint right tryna make me a dog....... not that he was even. phased by betraying those boundaries bt. still. i won’t lie his main first impression was probably jst damn bit hot when she glares at me like that. KJHFSGKSJHGKGHSFKGH

current impression:  

knows her a little more than he likes to know people. favourite person to argue w. can possibly skate better than him bt if she said so he’d be like “ur off ur fuckin tits man” n then practice secretly on his own for hours that night n get 9457295 scrapes. doesn’t like talking abt her dad like him so one time he put a firework in his mailbox n never admitted it was him. has reactions to youtube videos tht make him snort. quite funny in general rly. drinks a lot not that he can judge it’s just sometimes he notices n once he even snatched her cup n drank the rest so she couldn’t. played it off as their typical fuckery bt he isn’t sure what that feeling was. hasn’t been concerned often enough to know it by name. finds her hot at inappropriate moments like when a movie chara’s dying n he’s meant to be sad. finds her hot when she pisses him off too. thinks mayb she likes the excuse to hold onto him when she rides on his vespa but he kind of likes it too so he’s not about to call it out bc “he isn’t about that deep shit”. 

are they attracted to your muse?:  

KFJHGKJGHFGKFHSGKSHGKSFGH. imagine i was jst like no <3... yes. he likes to act like he’s less so than he is bt it’s obvious.

something they find frightening about your muse:

i wouldn’t say it frightens him bt sometimes he catches her looking at him a certain way n it unsettles him but he doesn’t know why. usually just pretends he didn’t catch it.

something they find adorable about your muse:  

he likes her short hair he’s always ruffling it n tugging on it. whenever she hs bumps n scrapes n bruises from falling off her board n getting back on over n over again jst never giving up or giving a fk. when she acts like she isn’t jealous.

would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

umm. no. he’s an asshole. KGJSHFKGHSKFHGSKFGHKGH. sighs.

would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

no..... sees that as dangerous territory wouldn’t wna blur the lines. looks away.

one word my muse would use to describe yours:  

baddie. FKGJHSKGHFGSFHGSKGHSFKHG. demonic (when they’ve had a fight). 

would my muse slap yours if they could?:

no. he loves to argue w her but it never feels that Real u know... more like flirting. even when they’re rly pissed off. wld never enter that territory he hates shit like tht w a passion. cue round of applause from the audience for this absolutely low bar.

would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

i feel like they’re not rly huggy people...... ziggy probably puts his arm around her a lot tho he loves doing that. hs kissed her more times than he can count too n doesn’t plan on stopping

BRADLEY & XAVIER

their first impression of your muse:

funny. mean in a more digestible way than she was used to. he had barbs n she liked the way people winced when they tried to swallow his company. when she got paired w him for a class project she met his eyes across the room n he didn’t quickly look away like most ppl. something abt that intrigued her. a sharp fingernail inside her head kept having to itch at something n she realised it was the urge for him to call her a bad name. this weird craving to hear an angry word inside his mouth just for her. she used to think that’s what someone wanting her was like. still does sometimes. this both pissed her off n caught her attention which is a bit of an accomplishment fr someone who gets bored by everyone n everything.

current impression:  

his heart’s more good than she expected. it felt a bit like having a cat drop a dead mouse at ur doorstep that u don’t know what to do with when she realised that. she felt uncomfortably like her mother when she couldn’t get out of his bed bc she was too depressed n that rly made her feel like. ill honestly. he did all the right things but suddenly she just felt sick abt the whole situation which is Not the normal reaction to ur bf caring about u but bradley doesn’t understand ppl caring abt her. felt more like pity. she thinks he’s better off. she misses him sometimes bt then she reminds herself she doesn’t miss people. does a good job of believing it. one of the best ppl she’s dated not that she’d say it.

are they attracted to your muse?:  

yes..... ws probably. unhinged n rabid when they were dating. very good at hiding it now however. cold at the drop of a hat.

something they find frightening about your muse:

that he witnessed her being vulnerable............ literally grosses her out so much like she’d rather die than. anyone see her like that. when they were dating she’d get paranoid her dad wld somehow find out too n smthn wld happen to him for it. it ws definitely weird for her like the fact she even cared enough to consider tht.

something they find adorable about your muse:  

adorable is rly not a word that fits into bradley’s vocabulary GHSFGHSFKGHSFKG bt hm. maybe if he ever tried to tell her what to do one time even casually. she’d b like awww..... u think i do what anyone tells me? that’s so fucking sweet. 

would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

in most cases no :/..... however if it was smthn to do w the guys that work for her dad then ya she’d put herself in danger to avoid him being in it.

would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

i mean she has in the past bt bradley’s idea of dates is like. starting a bar fight together. getting thrown out of a club n both falling over into trash cans in a dingy back alley. stealing a car. breaking into a random house n fking in a stranger’s bed. fking in the bk of a movie theatre w a horror movie screening. definitely not dinner or anything like tht. she wldn’t now........ they’re not exactly in a place fr that..... 

one word my muse would use to describe yours:  

ex. whatever. i know it’s not one word but “some guy”. FGHSKGHFGKSHG >_>

would my muse slap yours if they could?:

no. she’s a violent person bt not xavier.

would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

NO hugging...................... she fronts like she wldn’t kiss him bt like. if a discussion got heated n they were in each other’s faces who’s to say. 

NYLA & SEAN

their first impression of your muse:

strange little fella which is a very high compliment. kind of reminded them of an animated turtle come to life in the human realm altho they honestly don’t have an explanation for that it’s just the way their brain works. they love the turtles in finding nemo tho so maybe there’s some sort of correlation. very nice face. they kind of wanted to hold his head like a bowling ball just so they could examine it properly. i feel like when they first met him they probably reached out n smoothed a sticky label onto his forehead that said ‘catfish in chernobyl’ n they had one on their forehead that was blank n then they just wafted a pen mid air n were like ‘wanna play guesses?’ even tho that isn’t the name of the game. as if that was just. a completely normal introduction to someone. FGKHSKHGSFKGHSFKG. feel like sean wld have rolled w that tho so nyla was like :P i like.... if they played another round they’d give sean another sticky label that said ‘the loneliest whale in the world’ n then it’d start a whole conversation abt how nyla thinks they can speak whaleish. (whale spin on elvish). 

current impression:  

sean makes them think of that artificial blue raspberry flavour some popsicles have n how it’s always rly fun when they stain ur tongue. sweet n exuberant n leaves a bright impression. he lets them ride on his skateboard sometimes rolling along being lead by them holding his hand n nyla likes to shut their eyes like they’re a bird sailing above the clouds. one of their favourite things to do especially when the sun’s out. bc of this nyla thinks sean was a bird in his past life but not a greedy one like a seagull or a plain one like a pigeon. maybe a bluebird bc of his eyes. he makes them laugh a lot. they entrusted him to babysit their children (as pictured) in his hair for a whole day and night once n they had lots of fun with him so nyla thinks he’s very trustworthy and kind. he also is rly easy to talk to like they cld randomly be like “i’ve been thinking lately that maybe homer simpson could’ve been a good figure skater” n sean wldn’t look at them like they’ve lost their marbles he’d just go w it. they like his company a lot.

are they attracted to your muse?:  

😏

something they find frightening about your muse:

ummm nothing in particular altho one time when they were rly tripping out bc his eyes are blue n it got them thinking abt the ocean n they always think they can talk to ghosts underwater so they were kind of like. thinking abt ghosts whenever they looked him in the eyes. maybe covered their own w their hands n if sean asked why they told him abt it. suddenly he shut his eyes to make them feel better n it turned into a whole thing where nyla had to lead him around the party like a guide dog.

something they find adorable about your muse:  

his nose. watching him talk to his siblings. his hands.

would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

😌 yea

would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

yes............ feel like they’d have fun if they went anywhere tbh........ cn imagine them at a fair eating from the same cotton candy n chattering as they point out things. nyla trying to do that hammer game where u make the meter reach the top n lifting the hammer in the air n falling backwards bc it was heavier than they anticipated.... sean yelling like man down man down..... mayb they take a tab n suddenly the fair is so scary they’re like 😳 we’re in danger...

one word my muse would use to describe yours:  

silly (affectionate). sailor (also term of endearment). gnome (same thing again). cool.

would my muse slap yours if they could?:

no ur sick....

would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

ya to both. jst suddenly had a vision too of nyla being cold one time n clinging to sean from the front like a bushbaby in a hug as he carries her around. suddenly this mode of transportation hs happened more thn once (godmod) (contact my lawyers if u dare bebe) (bitch) (i take it back) (it wasn’t right alli it jst wasn’t right) (pelase forigev m eim shakign)

[opera-ghosts]

  Hector Dufranne (25 October 1870 – 4 May 1951) was a Belgian operatic bass-baritone who enjoyed a long career that took him to opera houses throughout Europe and the United States for more than four decades. Admired for both his singing and his acting, Dufranne appeared in a large number of world premieres, most notably the role Golaud in the original Opéra-Comique production of Claude Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande at the Salle Favart in Paris in 1902, which he went on to sing 120 times at that house. He had an excellent singing technique which maintained the quality of his voice even into the latter part of his career. His wide vocal range and rich resonant voice enabled him to sing a variety of roles which encompassed French, German, and Italian opera.  He studied at the Brussels Conservatory with Désiré Demest before making his professional opera debut in 1896 at La Monnaie as Valentin in Charles Gounod's Faust. He returned to that opera house several times to sing such roles as Grymping  in Vincent d'Indy's Fervaal (1897), Alberich in Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold (1898), Thomas in Jan Blockx's Thyl Uylenspiegel (1900), Thoas in Christoph Willibald Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride (1902), the Innkeeper in Engelbert Humperdinck's Königskinder (1912), and Rocco in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's I gioielli della Madonna (1913). Dufranne sang at the Opéra-Comique in Paris from 1900 to 1912, making his first appearance as Thoas. He appeared in several world premieres with the company including creating the roles of Saluces in Griselidis (1901), the title role in Alfred Bruneau's L' Ouragan (1901), Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande (1902), Amaury-Ganelon in La Fille de Roland by Henri Rabaud (1904), Koebi in Gustave Doret's Les Armaillis (1906), the title role in Xavier Leroux's Le Chemineau, Clavaroche in Fortunio by André Messager (1907), the fiancé in Raoul Laparra's La Habanéra (1908), and Don Iñigo Gomez in Maurice Ravel's L'Heure espagnole (1911). He also sang Scarpia in the Opéra-Comique’s first production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca (1909). Dufranne also appeared periodically at the Paris Opera beginning in 1907. He notably portrayed the role of John the Baptist in their first production of Richard Strauss's Salome (1910). He also sang at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 1907 where he took part in the creation of two world premieres, the role of André Thorel in Jules Massenet's Thérèse and the title role in Bruneau's Naïs Micoulin. In 1914 he sang the role of Golaud in his only appearance at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden in London. In 1908 Dufranne we nt to the United States for the first time to sing with the Manhattan Opera Company in the American premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande. He returned for several more productions through 1910, appearing as le Prieur in Le jongleur de Notre-Dame (1909), Caoudal in Sapho (1909), Rabo in Jan Blockx's Herbergprinses (performed in Italian as La Princesse d'Auberge, 1909), John the Baptist in Richard Strauss's Salome (1910), and Saluces in Massenet's Griselidis (1910). He also sang with the Chicago Grand Opera Company and the Chicago Opera Association from 1910 to 1922, creating there Léandre in The Love for Three Oranges (in French) by Sergei Prokofiev, in 1921.  In 1922, Dufranne returned to Paris where he continued to appear in operas in all the major houses in addition to appearing in other opera houses in France. He also spent a brief time performing in Amsterdam in 1935. In 1923 he created the part of Don Quixote in the stage première of El retablo de maese Pedro under the baton of the composer, Manuel de Falla. The performance was for a private audience and was held in the private theatre of Winnaretta Singer, Princess Edmond de Polignac; he repeated the role in a Falla triple-bill at the Opéra-Comique in 1928. In 1924, he appeared at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in the world premiere of Léon Sachs's Les Burgraves. With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Dufranne retired from the stage, with his last performance being the role of Golaud at the opera house in Vichy. He lived in Paris where he taught singing for many years before his death in 1951.

[sadmmann]

Life lost in the club Pulse

Today and every day we remember 49 innocent victims lost 3 years ago in Orlando, June 12, 2016. part 1

Edward Sotomayor Jr, 34

Edward was a caring, energetic man known for wearing a silly top hat on cruises, Edward worked for a company that held gay cruises and often travelled to promote the company’s events.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Stanley worked as a technician in a pharmacy, he was described as “good, but impudent” and a person who is not indifferent to his own sexual identity. "He was so proud of who he was."

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20

Luis described himself as a dancer on his Facebook account. Following the terrorist attack at the Bataclan theatre in Paris last year, he showed solidarity with the victims by adding a tricolour filter to his profile photo. A former teacher described him as a ‘ray of sunshine’. 

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22

Guerrero worked as a telemarketer, and was in school at the University of Central Florida. He was attending Pulse with his boyfriend, Christopher Andrew “Drew” Leinonen, who also died in the attack. “Juan and Drew were soul mates, and they were great together,”

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

After moving to Florida from Puerto Rico for the chance of a better life, Eric , a merchandise manager, was said to have ‘sacrificed himself a lot for his family’, the Orlando Sentinel reported. ‘Eric was always willing to help everybody. He loved his brother, and he was always being generous.’

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Peter worked for logistics company UPS in Orlando after graduating from Colonia High School. Originally from South Africa.

Luis S. Vielma, 22 

Luis worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios, according to author JK Rowling, who said she could not ‘stop crying’ after hearing the news. Friends told the Orlando Sentinel that Mr Vielma was a ‘true friend’, and he had hoped to become an emergency medical technician. One, Olga Glomba, described him as ‘a funny, sweet, nerdy guy without a mean side. He just wanted to make people smile.’

Kimberly Morris, 37

Morris, a bouncer at the nightclub, was a former basketball player at Post University in Connecticut. “She was tough and played hard on the basketball court but off the court she was all smiles.” “She always had a smile on her face,”

Franky Velazquez, 50

DeJesus was a professional dancer who had danced in Puerto Rico and had traveled the world. “Jimmy was lovable, outgoing,” his sister, Sarah Lopez, tells. “He was one of those guys that you wanted to be friends with, you know? One of those people who brightened a room when he walked in.

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Rosado was the father of a 5-year-old child and also a professional dancer, specializing in salsa. Close friend tells that he used to dance for Disney and Universal Studios. “He was a great, great father,” she says. “He was just the most fun, happiest guy you could ever know.”

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jorge-Reyes had a passion for life, according to friend. Ortiz met Jorge-Reyes, who was originally from Puerto Rico, through her practice, and says, “He was so funny and so alive and savvy.” “He had an extreme talent for the arts and was very creative with makeup,” she shares.

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33

Tomlinson was a lead singer in Frequency Band, a local cover band that performed top 40 songs, according to longtime friend Jai Saint. “He has a great voice, he is so popular around here. Honestly it’s hard not to enjoy his voice,” Saint tells of his best friend of 10 years. “He’s extremely positive, he’s all about life and living it to the fullest. He had amazing energy, which is hard to come by these days.” Tomlinson graduated from East Carolina University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a minor in Business Administration.

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30

Justice worked as an accountant and lived in downtown Orlando. He loved accessorizing with flashy jewelry and loved making others laugh. Justice’s mother Mina received texts from her son throughout the shooting as he hid in the bathroom. At one point he wrote, “He’s coming. I’m gonna die.”

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29

Burt was a member of the Jacksonville Jaycees, a young professional’s group in Florida. “He was personable, social and easy going,”. “Both socially and professionally he was always interested in making positive impact on people’s lives and in the community.” A hard worker, Burt had recently been recommended for a position on the Jaycee’s Board of Directors.

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32

Drayton, had been through rough times, a friend tells, but was pulling herself together and was happy living in Orlando.

Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25

Disla was a talented dancer, who excelled in a variety of styles including salsa, mambo, tango or ballroom was in Orlando to pursue a career as both a dancer and choreographer. His mother, Olga M. Disla, tells: “He was lovely, kind and respectful of others all the time. He liked to help anyone who needed help.”

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35

Perez, born in Puerto Rico, was obsessed with fitness and loved testing out new fragrances, Agudelo said. He met his longtime partner Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon at the store. Wilson-Leon was also a victim of the shooting. Friend Marisa tells, “Nicest guy you’d ever meet. Both of them, actually. They were magnetic. They’d walk into the room and everyone would turn to look, because they were just so handsome.”

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Wilson-Leon was the manager of a shoe store and longtime love of fellow victim Perez. “They faced the odds, Luis came from Puerto Rico and being gay isn’t totally accepted, obviously here, but it’s not totally accepted there as well,” his cousin Luis Wilson tells. “He is an inspiration. He grew up conflicted but found peace with himself and those around him and he finally had found acceptance and love. Finally found it. And now look.”

Amanda Alvear, 25

Alvear was attending school to be a nurse, and has recently been promoted to the lead pharmacy technician at the pharmacy where she worked, Shannon Marie Baxley, her sister-in-law, tells. “She loved the gay community, the LGBT community. She was straight herself but those were her people, those were her family. She was a magnetic person,” Baxley shares. “She was the loveliest girl, just the sweetest girl.”

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Longtime friend of Torres, tells that he just had moved to Florida at the end of the last year to continue working for Hertz. He was also studying marketing at Sistema Universitario Ana G Mndez. “He was one of a kind,” she shares. “He was always a person that you could talk to. He was our confidant. He was always surrounded by all of us. We were all women where we used to work, so we used to laugh with him, we used to cry with him. He was a good friend.”

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31

Wright worked in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Another person who worked with him added that he was “hard-working” and “loved his job.” “He was one of the first to say hi and make us smile and laugh,”

Cory James Connell, 21

Connell enjoyed playing football and basketball and had dreams of becoming a firefighter. While still in pursuit of that dream, Connell studied at Valencia Community College in Orlando and worked stocking shelves at the Publix in Orlando’s Edgewater neighborhood.

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49

McCool, was battling leukemia when her life was cut short, her niece, Neila Rodriguez, tells. At Pulse with her son Isaiah, McCool was shot in the back and told him to “just run, go.” “She was a cool mom. She was really down-to-earth and open-minded.”

[letterstoleia]

Dear Ryder,

Today is your 8th birthday! I have no idea how this happened in a blink of the eye. You have grown so much this last year, and I could not more proud of you.

2020 has been a terrible year. Covid has been a thing since March, shutting down every activity we usually do. Every social encounter begins with wearing a mask, and staying 6 feet away

You and I spend a lot of time cuddling on the couch, watching TV, playing animal crossing, learning about a variety of things. You love Garfield on Netflix, the discovery channel, and all things Captain Underpants.

We take the dogs for walks, play pokemon go, play minecraft, and adventure Academy. You enjoy reading with me finally and still love Pete the Cat. But have moved up to the Captain Underpants Books too.

We have been playing a lot of board games, especially Monopoly. You usually beat me and daddy. We have several different varieties of it to spice things up. Including a Kitchener one which is fun. You also love Yahtzee which my mommy would find funny. It was the one game her and I played a lot of.

We swam every day this summer in the yard since I bought a deeper bigger pool finally. Also used your new trampoline with a friend named Maddy. She stayed over a lot and is 10. It made me sad because you enjoyed her company and friendship so much. It made me miss your sister even more.

Her 9th birthday was in October, it was a very low key event. We had cupcakes and released a balloon.

When it was nice outside we spent time at the park even though the play stuff was shut down. A few times we got to go to splash pad. You went with Xavier for his birthday in July which was fun.

The library was closed for months, finally opening back up only for picking up books. No Wednesday meet ups with Dane, Madison, and Nathan. No Friday meet ups in the kids room with the homeschooling kids. No Tuesday drop in gym either. All so depressing.

Schools were shut down and now back open. We did virtual stuff as much as possible, very little workbook stuff because you do not enjoy it. I must say you are very smart (as you always have been) doing math in your head, and reading way above your level now. You look up things if you do not know the answer and now have your own Alexa in your room.

Speaking of your room, you no longer co sleep with me. You and Zelda sleep in the loft bed every night and you love it. I miss you but it is fantastic you are comfortable sleeping in there alone now.

You also love Christmas a lot. This year we have been trying to watch Christmas movies once a night and Christmas books. As a surprise we bought you a tree of your own tree for your room as we are going to turn our tree into a baby Yoda tree.

Baby Yoda has been a fun way for you and daddy to bond. He has always been sad you don't love Star Wars the way he does, but now you guys love watching The Mandalorian on Disney plus.

We also got you a total of 8 gifts since you are 8 after all. I will post photos after you open them all. Friends of mommy have been sending cards in the mail for you, which will be a fun suprise for you too.

I am sorry we can not have a big party like every year. The usual kids always come Lillian, Xavier, Logan, Miles and Ziola. We had planned on seeing the new Croods movie on Saturday with a few friends however the theatre is closing as of Monday.

I do not know what will happen yet this weekend. Maybe Xavier will come, maybe you can see Logan. It is all so scary because we need to stay in our bubbles. Right now ours only includes the 3 of us.

You have several new homeschooling friends from a few "meet ups" in September at the parks, and one lives near us. He is a bit younger but you guys get along. It is sad we can not get together now at people's houses. You only saw Dane and Maddie a few times.

Kid you are one of a kind, so grown up. So tall, and well balanced. You are well behaved and never ever break the rules. I never want you to change or put clothes on when we are home (ha ha).

This year has been different, scary and hard to understand for adults and you have taken it all surprisingly well.

We love you so so much Ryder.

Love Mommy

[starstruck-xavier]

💫 sanders sides au masterlist 💫

i have a few aus! here’s to hoping this will help me remember them all and continue to write/draw them. (main masterpost)

theatre company au (#xavier’s theatre au)

first premise

analogical rambly stuff

disclaimer about e.d discussion

more premise stuff

big overview and disclaimers

fairy au (#xavier’s fairy au)

thread of ideas

virgil fairy art

virgil fairy art 2: electric boogaloo

roman fairy art

magical powers au (#xavier’s magic au)

big magic au post

virgil art

patton art

misfits au - even the misfits have their outliers (i’m losing signal in the hills) (#xavier’s misfits au)

link to my ao3 series

subway surfers/logicality backstory?

the post that inspired the first fic

[catholicartistsnyc]

Meet: Tom Paolino

TOM PAOLINO is an actor living in New York City. www.tompaolino.com

Catholic Artist Connection (CAC): What brought you to NYC, and where did you come from?

Tom Paolino (TP): I moved here for a woman. At the time I was living in LA.

CAC: What do you see as your personal mission as a Catholic working in the arts?

TP: The root word of theatre is "thea," which is Latin for "heal." Got it? 

CAC: Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist? How can the Church be more welcoming to artists?

TP: The Jesuits have been most supportive. The Church should follow the example of Jesuits where the arts are concerned. 

CAC: How can the artistic world be more welcoming to artists of faith?

TP: Multiple productions of Emily Claire Schmitt's play "The Chalice" would help. 

CAC: Where in NYC do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

TP: St. Francis of Assisi on 31st Street.

CAC: Are you a part of any theatre companies, artist collectives, writing groups, training programs, or similar professional communities you would recommend?

TP: I enjoy studying with Rob McCaskill.

CAC: How have you found or built community as a Catholic artist living in NYC?

TP: I worked for a while with Xavier Theatre Company which was great. 

CAC: What is your daily spiritual practice?

TP: I pray and meditate daily. I stay sober from various substances and behaviors by attending spiritual programs of recovery.

CAC: What is your daily artistic practice?

TP: I write three pages each morning to drain my critical mind and make room for God's creative flow. I follow my heart in all my affairs.  

CAC: Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.

TP: Today!  I went to acting class for three hours, then bought acting books at Drama Book Shop, then met an awesome new agent and now I'm sharing with you my day!

CAC: How did you find your current housing situation? Which neighborhoods would you recommend to artists moving to the city?

TP: Sunnyside, Queens is great. The Actors Fund has wonderful resources, including an online housing bulletin board. 

CAC: But seriously, how do you make a living in NYC?

TP: I rent a car and drive for UBER and JUNO. Soon, I will make a lot of money acting now that I have agents. 

CAC: How much would you suggest artists moving to NYC budget for their first year?

TP: You need at least $35K to be safe. 

CAC: What are your top 3 pieces of advice for Catholic artists moving to NYC?

TP: Breathe. Follow your heart. Repeat.

[kaetastic]

upcoming things:

Soft!Michael X Mommy Kink!Reader - may be the continuation to Good Boy.

Would y’all want a Sadistic!OC X Michael Langdon X Nicholas Scratch X Tom Riddle?? like just straight up dark and from GOT lmao (series)

Duncan Shepherd X Michael Langdon X Reader X Jim Mason - smut at the movie theatre (i did a similar one for xavier ooo)

Roadtrip; Stucky X Reader - smut in the van

Stucky X Reader - ANGST ANGST ANGST, quick summary: After Bucky turns to dust, the relationship between Reader and Steve falls apart.

Howard Stark X Reader - Reader and Howard are a thing... until she is put in ice because that’s how they solved it back then

FLUFF reader x michael langdon x jim mason x duncan shepherd at the beach - Jim made everyone leave work to be free from work.

Rogers!Reader X Bucky - Bucky is your father’s best friend. And he finds it hard to breath the same air as you. ??? huh?

[1.10.19] s.

Regulus Black X Reader - After years of trying to sit down with your brother-in-law, Sirius finally knocks on your door. Years after your lover died.

Sirius Black X Reader ??- Harry’s Aunty on his father’s side was tainted with evil, clean she claimed she was. Is she?

Servant!Steve Rogers X Princess!Reader - Love should not be restricted by classes.

[20.1.20] s.

Henry Cavill X Reader X Chris Evans - The trio was caught at Disneyland, however, does the world truly know of the scret behind the three?

Bucky Barnes X Reader - A mission underwater was not something they knew was coming, but it was not considered complicated. If only Bucky wasn’t so easily distracted by a view.

Tom Riddle X Michael Langdon X Kylo Ren X Reader - Pure filthy smut

Tom Riddle X Reader - The two heads of the school always find ways to relief the exhausting day with one another.

Voldemort X OC - A mask provided her the freedom of Azkaban, a defence of lies. Years, it has been. Finally, the dark lord and his queen rises once again.

[15.5.20] s.

Finn Shelby X Reader, Luca Changretta X Reader, Deceased!John X Reader - An old friend of Thomas is called to Birmingham so she could supply firearms, except, she left the island with the younger brother of her deceased lover.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Peaky Blinders X Eldest!F!Reader - The eldest of the Shelbys return back to the one and only Birmingham.

Isaiah Jesus X Shelby!Reader - Isaiah and the reader are not in an official relationship, but, he can’t help but to notice raging jealous when eyes gawk at her.

Charlie Weasley X Reader - Charlie Weasley, Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor’s. Blinded by his admiration for dragons and a ravenclaw girl, he doesn’t know what he was losing until he lost it.

Thomas Shelby X Changretta!Reader - A night at the ball, Thomas grazes his eyes upon an unaccompanied woman at the bar. After a night of exhaustion and moaning, the woman was not who he had expected.

[11.7.20] s. [16.7.20] f.

Maxwell Lord X F!CEO!Reader - No one could deny the rivalry between the two companies that dominated the market, if only they had known what the two had behind private walls.

Post-Azakaban!Sirius Black X F!Reader - Old love rekindling by a very much needed reunion.

[trickstervixen-misterauthority]

As a young person, Sir Patrick Stewart was a member of various local drama groups from about age 12. He left school at age 15 to work as a junior reporter on a local paper.  However, he quit when his editor told him he was spending too much time at the theatre and not enough time working. Stewart obtained employment as a furniture salesman, saving cash to attend drama school. He later made his professional debut in 1959 in the repertory theatre in Lincoln. Stewart subsequently participated in a world tour with the Old Vic Company in the early 1960s. Stewart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, which began a 27-year association with that entity, making his London theatrical debut at that time. He continued landing roles in theatre, making his first Broadway appearance in 1971, as Snout in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Stewart took small roles in American and British films and television beginning in 1973, including the role of Sejanus in I, Claudius (1976). Following a spell with the Royal National Theatre in the mid 1980s, he went to Los Angeles, California to star on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), which ran from 1987-1994, playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. After the series ended, Stewart reprised his role for a string of successful Star Trek films. Stewart also took on the role of Professor Charles Xavier in The X-Men (2000), a role which he has reprised. Stewart continues to work on the stage and in various films. Stewart became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001.  He was subsequently awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to the field of drama.

Happy 80th birthday, Sir Patrick Stewart.

[writemarcus]

2022 Blue Ink Award Winner Announced

by Blues | Feb 16, 2022 | Blue Ink Playwriting Award, News

Congratulations to Mardee Bennett, winner of the 2022 Blue Ink Award for The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue. As part of the award, Bennett receives a $2,500 cash prize, a staged reading at American Blues Theater, and the opportunity to further develop his script with our artists.

Mardee Bennet notes, “I am elated to have my work selected by American Blues Theater. Set in mid-century Baltimore, The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue is the tale of a family striving for what was once called the American dream. It is also a political drama that speaks to the state of the nation with grace and humor. The opportunity to develop this play in one of the theater capitals of the world— Chicago—is a delight. The Blue Ink Award adds legitimacy to my work. For that I am profoundly grateful.”

“We are thrilled to announce Mardee Bennett’s script The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue as the 2022 winner,” notes Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside. “Mardee created an incredibly detailed world with rich characters that leap off the page and into our hearts. We’re honored to share this relevant and timeless story.”

About THE REAPERS ON WOODBROOK AVENUE

Spanning decades, this heartrending play explores the complex relationship between three generations of women: Loretta Reaper, a middle-aged Black woman, her grown, spitfire daughter, Nell, and her starry-eyed granddaughter Tamar. Raised in the church, all three ladies cut a mean cloth while taking us on a riveting journey through time, exhuming long-buried family secrets, and creating gospel fire in the process. 

About Mardee Bennett

Mardee Bennett is a playwright, screenwriter, and actor based in New York. With a sharp ear for dialogue, Mardee’s work explores the collective triumphs of Black people in America. His eight-character comedy Cane was a 2021 Blue Ink Award Finalist. The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue was a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference and the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. Other full-length titles include Loretta, The Nerve, In the Ramble, and A Pleasant Place to Be. His work has been developed at Center Stage, Signature Theatre, and Gloucester Stage Company. National Black Theatre will hold a workshop of his new play Sylvia Fair in Spring 2022.A proud Baltimore hometown boy, he trained at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Mardee is represented by A3 Artists Agency.

Other 2022 Blue Ink winners

Featured Finalists: Gina Femia (Staff Retreat), Rachel Lynett (White People By the Lake), Matthew Paul Olmos (a home what howls (or the house what was ravine)), Deborah Yarchun (Preservation)

Finalists: Paris Crayton III (Only Some of God’s Children or Mississippi Magnolias), Raul Garza (Arbolito), Emma Gibson (If nobody does remarkable things), Shannon TL Kearns (Body + Blood), Matthew Libby (Tomorrow and Tomorrow), Kyle J. McCloskey (Edge of Town), Tania Richard (The America Situation), Nia Akilah Robinson (“WP” Means “White People”), chandra thomas (…of Champions), Sarah Tuft (ABIGAIL), Ken Urban (The Moderate), P.C. Verrone (The Pretendians), Jessica Wu (Good Mourning)

Semi-finalists: Lucas Baisch (404 Not Found), Leah Roth Barsanti (The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan), Cris Eli Blak (Sons of Liberty), Brysen Boyd (Closing Costs on 6101 Nyanza Park Drive APT D6 Flushing, NY 11351), Xavier Clark (supper), Erin Considine (Artists & Vandals), Shualee Cook (Cercle Hermaphroditos), Andrew Lee Creech (Last Drive to Dodge), Pauline David-Sax (Cotton’s Tale), Angela J. Davis (AGATHE), Alexandra Espinoza (All My Mothers Dream in Spanish), Mouncey Ferguson (Three-Day Hold), Linda Maria Girón (amémonos // let us love each other), Keiko Green (Sharon), Amina Henry (Interstate), M.J. Kang (Pretender), Gloria Majule (Culture Shock), Nick Malakhow (A Picture of Two Boys), Thaddeus McCants (No Different Than Cotton or Cobalt), Karissa Murrell Myers (Blood of My Mother’s), Felicia Oduh (Mercy), Tira Palmquist (The Body’s Midnight), Ankita Raturi (The Elephant is Very Like), Kira Rockwell (Oh, to Be Pure Again), Marcus Scott (Tumbleweed), SEVAN (Gorgonae), Christopher G. Smith (The Violin Maker), Phillip Christian Smith (Walking While Black), Ellis Stump (Once on Rumspringa), Caridad Svich (Clara Thomas Bailey), Caity-Shea Violette (Rx Machina), Laura Zlatos (The Blue Whale)

About the Blue Ink Award for playwriting

The nationally-renowned Blue Ink Award was created in 2010 to support new work. Since inception, we’ve named 12 Award winners, 112 finalists, and 171 semi-finalists. Nearly $10,000 in cash and prizes will be distributed to playwrights in 2022.

Each year American Blues Theater accepts worldwide submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays. The winning play will be selected by Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and the theater’s Ensemble. The 2022 winning playwright receives a monetary prize of $2,500. Cash prizes are awarded to finalists and semi-finalists too.  All proceeds of the administrative fee are distributed for playwrights’ cash prizes.

Submissions for the 2023 Blue Ink Playwriting Award open July 1, 2022. All submissions must be received by American Blues Theater by August 31, 2022 at 11:59pm. Playwrights may only submit one (1) manuscript each year for consideration.