A Garden of Artistic Delights

April 18, 2024

Nurturing a garden My dear friend Sue Mach, who teaches at Clackamas Community College, invited me to read some plays that she had helped shepherd onto the page by her students. She is collaborating with fellow teacher Jessica Wallenfels, and these short works will be presented at Clackamas Community College by the acting students of … Read More

Home

March 19, 2024

One of the places where I feel at home is working with Colleen Connor at Audio Description Training Retreats. In April, I’ll be moderating The Fundamentals of Audio Description, a 3-day intensive training via Zoom with instructors Colleen Connor and Liz Gutman. This class includes: There is an emphasis on practice time—this is an art … Read More

Swooning over the moon

February 14, 2024

The show business My heart is full. I recently returned to Portland after a fantastic work session with Ned Lott, an inspiring and dear animated film producer. It took place in beautiful downtown Burbank. Long story short, the spot where we recorded is a Disney studio, where two walls are covered by the signatures of … Read More

Amblin’ into a new year

January 9, 2024

Amblin’ into a new year, as one “Practice sharing the fullness of your being, your best self, your enthusiasm, your vitality, your spirit, your trust, your openness, above all, your presence. Share it with yourself, with your family, with the world.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life … Read More

Walking Into Winter

December 3, 2023

Amblin’ around Boston Toward the end of last month, I found myself in the Boston Central Library in Copley Square with my daughter, who enjoys uninterrupted studying there. I read one of its inscriptions as we walked up to that magnificent building. “THE COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE AS THE SAFEGUARD OF ORDER … Read More

On the prowl for joy

November 5, 2023

Amblin’ into the holidays? I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus this year for Make the Yuletide Gay at The Newmark Theatre in December with Dru Rutledge. Find tickets here. Nobody does the holidays like the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Amblin’ with the people in your mind The yoga … Read More

Amblin’ along

October 10, 2023

These are the people in your neighborhood I’ve hung up my running shoes a bit this last month and have added some exercise that feels … a little slower and stretchier. When I run, I think: “Get it done, get it done.” While working on the fierce Miss Trunchbull at Portland Playhouse, I’ve been holding … Read More

Amblin’ along the PCT!

September 5, 2023

An Amble of any other name, smells My daughter Olivia is an adventurer. Several months ago, she proposed a backpacking trip to Gary and me; approximately twenty-seven miles in three days. I am an athletic human, and although it seemed like a big trip, I thought, “I’m in.” I wanted to give it a shot. … Read More

Amblin’ Around

July 31, 2023

It takes a village In my July newsletter, I mentioned a production of Gypsy I was in at Portland Center Stage. Above is a photo from the show taken by Owen Carey. PCS’s Chris Coleman, Rose Riordan, and director Bill Fennelly took a chance on me. I was slated to play one of the strippers, … Read More

Feeling Bloggy

July 4, 2023

Money makes the world go round I’m heartbroken to report that cultural funding in our state will stop woefully short of our deep need. Read Bob Hicks’ article here. Bill 2459 would have appropriated the necessary funds to the Oregon Business Development Department to distribute to Oregon cultural organizations in response to the negative impact … Read More

Me being me!

June 6, 2023

Going deeper than our masks of composure In all about love bell hooks cites M. Scott Peck’s definition of community: The coming together of a group of individuals “who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure, and who have developed some significant commitment to … Read More