Everything I know about acting I learned from Sir Ian McKellen on "Extras"...

Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

I got hungry tonight, but didn't really know what was around to eat. Rummaging around, I found a few things and decided to chuck 'em together and hope for the best. What came out was not too shabby. So I decided to post the recipe.

Stephen's Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

Ingredients:

• Salt (to taste)
  
• 3/4 to 1 lb. penne pasta (Rotini or shell macaroni could work as well.)
  
• olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2-3 Italian-style sausages, sliced (I used some chicken sausage, which worked out great!)
• 1 jar prepared alfredo sauce (I used Bertolli brand)
• 2 tsp. red chili flake (or less, depending on your tastes)
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds (optional - for Emilee)
• 1 tsp. rosemary
• freshly ground black pepper (I like to use a lot but understand that not everyone likes that much pepper - so season it to your tastes.)
  
• 1/4 c. pasta water (reserved)
  
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Preparation:

1. Salt a pot of water and bring it up to a rolling boil. Add pasta. Cook according to the directions on the box.
2. Coat skillet/pan with olive oil and saute garlic until just browning.
3. Add sliced sausage and brown on each side. (If needed, add a bit of water to deglaze the pan.)
4. Add alfredo sauce and reduce heat. Add spices and allow the sauce to heat through and give the flavors a chance to marry together.
5. When pasta is just shy of al dente (still just a bit firm), reserve the 1/4 c. of pasta water and drain pasta. DO NOT RINSE! Add the pasta to the sauce and stir together. Add the pasta water as you combine to give the sauce and pasta a chance to bond together better.
6. Bring to the plate. Grate fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano onto the pasta. Garnish with some fresh parsley if you have some laying around.

Serves: 3 (or 2 hungry 20-something males)

• NOTE: To serve four, add another sausage and another 1/4 lb. of pasta. Everything else should be the same.
  

Enjoy!

Melodic Monday - "Ruby's Arms"

A new feature (which, like the others, will likely be semi-regular), "Melodic Monday" will spotlight bands, artists, albums, or individual songs that I'm really getting into at the moment and will also highlight my incredibly eclectic taste in music.

A number of months ago, one of the students at the school I teach at asked me if I'd ever heard Tom Waits. While I am familiar with Waits' acting achievements (from films like Short Cuts, Mystery Men, and Domino), I had to plead ignorance as to his musical career, which is why he's famous in the first place. I was subsequently gifted a data disk filled with Waits' music - about seven or eight albums worth - and began to listen.

The man definitely has a very distinct sound. He is known for turning everyday objects into bizarre musical instruments. He has a way of incorporating various styles of music into his sound - vaudeville, blues, folk, early rock & roll. His low, gravelly voice is often filled with emotion and his dark sense of humor really comes across in songs like "Frank's Wild Years".

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled across the gem that is "Ruby's Arms," as it was not on any of the albums I was gifted... but ever since listening to it, the song has absolutely haunted me. The lyrics tell a heartbreaking story of a young soldier who leaves behind his girl - presumably to join the military. A combination of raw emotion, poetic imagery, and Waits' own surly voice really make this song one of the most poignant and moving songs that I've ever heard.

Give it a listen:

I am...

My good friend Dan and I met in college. He roomed with me for a semester, was on the campus improv team (Spoons 4 Forks) with me, and ended up marrying my good friend Mary Kay before heading back home to Texas. Currently, he works at Six Flags drawing caricatures for various passersby, which he chronicles on his blog. You should check it out. Awhile back, I asked for a caricature of Paul Giamatti he did that I really enjoyed as a Christmas gift and he graciously offered to just do one of me. Above is the result, which I am totally thrilled with!

Dan really managed to really capture the essence of who I am in a number of ways. Just about everything in this picture represents some aspect of my personality. I know that was something that was a bit difficult for him, but I really think he did a fantastic job! Let me walk you through the different 'in-jokes'...

• The toga and column (table): As a philosophy major in college, I love thinking about deeper issues and the like. I particularly like the works of Plato and Nietzsche. The toga and Grecian column acting as a table for the chess game are both homages to my love for philosophy (particularly the thought of the aforementioned Plato).
• Batman: I've been a comic book fan since high school. I read them when I was younger, but didn't become a true 'fanboy' 'til high school. Batman has always stood out to me as one of the best-written characters in the medium and decidedly one of my favorites. I love that I'm besting the Dark Knight Detective in a game of chess!
• Chess: I used to be on the chess team in elementary and high school. I was never very good, but I used to love the mental stimulation of the exercise. I probably still would if I sat down to play again, but I'm afraid I'd be too rusty. Nowhere near the caliber I'd need to be to beat the Bat! :)
• Cutlery: Ah, the spoon and the fork. Emblems of the greatest improv comedy troupe in Olivet Nazarene University history - Spoons 4 Forks. As mentioned above, Dan and I were both members (as was Dan's brother Matt... and several other good friends as well) and we had a lot of fun with that! (I also like to think the utensils double to cover my love for cuisine, food, and cooking... but it's probably just S4F!)
• Walrus: My Internet handle used to be "Chewy Walrus," so walruses used to be an obsession of mine. (I had a collection of stuffed walruses in high school and had my senior picture taken with it.) This is an obvious homage to that.
• The bush: ...i have no idea...

This is one of the first Christmas gifts I've received so far and, to this point, it's one of my favorites! Thanks, Dan!

Friday's Top Five - Christmas Movies

Once again - "that time of year." And, on the last Friday before the 'big day,' I've decided to lay out my top five favorite Christmas movies. This list will be decidedly controversial, but then I've never been 'typical' in terms of my tastes in... well... anything really. Enjoy!

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"B-but this is the best Christmas movie of all time! How can you rank it so low on your list?!" Invariably, whenever I tell people that I don't think Frank Capra's perennial holiday classic is the "best," I get this reaction, just as I'm sure I'm getting it from you right now. I suppose, for me, the over-saturation of this movie over the course of the last fifty years has worn this movie thin. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy it. But, for me, this film has become such a classic that it doesn't pack the same punch it used to. Still, I love the character of Clarence ("Heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves!") and find George Bailey's character arc to be one of the most fascinating in cinematic history. So, there!

4. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964)
As a kid, I used to love the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials, characterized by the wooden puppets and fun little sing-alongs. (These are the guys who are also responsible for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "The Little Drummer Boy," and the animated "Frosty the Snowman".) "Rudolph," though, always stood out to me as something special. The fantastic characters - the elf who wants to be a dentist, the Abominable Snowman with a toothache, the singing snowman, the eccentric prospector, an island of 'misfit toys,' and, naturally, the red-nosed reindeer with a heart of gold - coupled with the memorable songs, the fun animation, and the vocal talents of Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman) really helped to make Christmas a memorable time for me as a child.

3. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (1966)
I actually prefer this animated version to the live-action Ron Howard-Jim Carrey from 2000 for a number of reasons. Firstly, I get awfully nostalgic when watching this version, mainly because it's the version I loved so well as a child. Secondly, I think that 26 minutes of the voice talents of Boris Karloff do more to establish the Grinch as one of the nastiest creatures in all of literature than Jim Carrey does in 104 minutes. Finally - and what I feel makes the whole movie - is the Grinch's theme ("You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") sung by Tony the Tiger himself, Mr. Thurl Ravenscroft. Better in every way (in my humble opinion).

2. Scrooged (1988)
In my mind, there are few comedians alive who can square with Bill Murray. The man has been doing deadpan for ages and been doing it well-enough to have made a career out of it. One of my favorite roles - largely for sentimental reasons - is his turn as a spiritless television executive in Richard Donner's retelling of Dickens' classic book, A Christmas Carol. Taking on the 'Scrooge' role (as does Buddy Hackett), Murray is surrounded by a host of magnificent talent, including Carole Kane as the sadistic Ghost of Christmas Present, Alfre Woodard as the female Bob Crachitt, Karen Allen as Murray's big-hearted lost love, and Bobcat Goldthwait as the disgruntled laid-off employee. A fabulous film that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like!

1. Elf (2003)
I know, I know. "A Will Ferrell movie at No. 1?! Stephen, you're slipping!" And that may well be true. It seems, however, that Ferrell's honest turn as the lively, unassuming human-turned-elf Buddy strikes a chord with me and stands as a modern Christmas classic. Masterfully acted (including some standout performances from Ed Asner, the lovely Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Bob Newhart - with great cameos by Amy Sedaris, Faizon Love, Leon Redbone, John Favreau, Kyle Gass, Andy Richter, and Peter Dinklage), wonderfully written, and unendingly charming, Elf stands as a great film about the child-like wonder of Christmas that gets so easily lost this time of year.

Honorable Mentions: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "A Garfield Christmas Special" (1987), "A Claymation Christmas Celebration" (1987), "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968)

Hot Topic Tuesday - Consumed with Consumerism

Though you'd imagine that it goes without saying, I've changed a lot since my childhood and teenage years. Now, granted, I still have a lot more growing to do (something that will also go without saying), but at the moment, I find myself looking around and feeling a bit dissatisfied. It sounds like a terrible thing to say, particularly in the middle of the Advent season with Christmas less than two weeks away... but I cannot help the way I feel.

I think I started noticing it when I was young, though I did not recognize it then. It almost seemed as if, the older I got, the less magical Christmas became. For awhile, I equated that feeling with my growing up. Now, however, I think I attribute this lack of 'magic' to the over-commercialism and saturation of Christmas with the capitalistic manifesto.

To a degree, we all buy into this attitude - we lavish presents on friends, family, and co-workers... and, even this year, I've done just that. It's one way to express love for those around us. In a consumer-driven culture, like the one we all live in, it is often the easiest and most convenient way, though not necessarily the best.

Having a conversation with a couple of my fellow teachers yesterday over lunch yielded some interesting tidbits about the differences between Europe and America - particularly as urban areas are concerned. In Europe, most cities exist only over the course of a couple of miles... and the larger ones have excellent public transport. Most everything is within walking distance. Not so in the States. Cars are a necessity. I live at least 20 minutes driving distance (if not more) from both my place of employment and my place of worship. Seems absurd, no? (Perhaps the scary thing is that it really doesn't seem all that absurd...)

One of the teachers mentioned that this space was largely in part to the culture of consumerism we've fostered in America. Rather than keep everything intimate, we've spread out, consuming land and resources as we've gone until we are scattered from one another, losing our sense of community and comradery.

Christmas has no remained unaffected. In an effort to show our love for one another, we find ourselves bustling all over town (or, in my case, all over the Internet) in search of the best deal rather than spending time with those loved ones. It seems a pity, no?

Here's a video I saw a few weeks ago at Indy First's Fall Retreat. It's definitely stayed with me since I've seen it. Check it out:




Definitely something to think about. Times are tough all over, not just here. I, for one, have committed to giving a sum of money to this charity. I hope that you can find it in your heart (if you have the means) to give as well. Check out the Advent Conspiracy website at www.AdventConspiracy.org.

Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." We live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. If you have access to a computer, chances are you're living in the wealthiest 1% of the world's population. So... you've been given much. Are you living up to His expectations?

Shopping for me last minute?

Need an idea? I saw this today (a day late, sadly) on Neil Gaiman's blog (he's one of my favorite authors, in case you're new here) and thought, If I had some loose cash lying around, I'd pick that up. As I don't, I figured I'd post it here, knowing that you all love me enough to buy me stupid things (he says, laughing all the while).

"The Day the Saucers Came" is a truly funny poem about the nature of obsession. A talented artist has illustrated it. There will be 500 copies. They are $45 each. Help a brother out?

EDIT: Here's a picture from Gaiman's website. Click for a larger view.

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Favorite Christmas Carols

Well, it's that time of year again - the "most wonderful time" as it were. With finals rapidly approaching next week, that means that Christmas time is almost upon us. As such, it's that time when we start hearing those old familiar songs and carols over and over and over again. I heard quite a few of them last night performed by some very talented high school students at CCHS' annual Christmas music concert. It got me thinking... what are some of my favorite Christmas carols? (For the purposes of this list, I'm opting to choose more traditional carols that truly capture the meaning of the season. This is not to say I don't enjoy the novelty carol - quite untrue, in fact. But traditional carols are traditional for a reason - they're timeless.)

5. "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)"
What makes a beautiful Christmas song? Start with some beautiful music... and 'Greensleeves,' a traditional British folk song about unrequited love, certainly does the trick. Whether played on piano, violin, saxophone... whatever, the song is more widely known as an instrumental piece these days. The Christmas overtones were added by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, making this song a gorgeous holiday classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time. I'm a big fan of the Sarah McLachlan version from her Christmas album 'Wintersong,' released a couple of years back.

4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Another fantastic song. This one has got a lot of meaning - the lyrics speak of the ransom of a "captive Israel" and speaks of the nation in exile, desperately in need of both Savior and Messiah. While the composition of the song seems haunting and dreary, the words evoke a note of hope amid suffering. A powerful tune that has been synonymous with the Advent season since its writing. Beautiful. Sufjan Stevens does a good version of this song - worth checking out.

3. "The Ukranian Bell Carol" (a.k.a. "The Carol of the Bells")
Probably the newest of the songs on this list, this song was first performed in 1916 as a New Year's anthem and, ironically enough, was meant to be sung a capella. The irony, of course, is the fact that the most popular versions of this song today are instrumental (most notably performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Having heard this song performed both by instrumentalists and a capella by a choir (like Straight No Chaser from IU), I'm not sure which version I enjoy more... but I do know that this is assuredly one of my favorite carols!

2. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
This is a great song that remains a favorite of mine. Speaking again of the need for a Savior, this song definitely possesses the 'peace' elements of the Christmas season - Christ has come to save mankind and, as such, there is no longer any need to fear, worry, or fret. Magnificent. Of all the fabulous versions of this song out there, I love either the version the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does before "Carol of the Bells" (link above) or the version the Barenaked Ladies recorded with Sarah McLachlan (which includes a version of "We Three Kings" - icing on the cake!). It's fun and poignant all at the same time.

1. "O Holy Night"
Easily my favorite Christmas carol of all time! The powerful crescendos, the moving lyrics, and the swell within everyone in the place when the choir encourages all to "fall on your knees" at the awe and majesty of the miracle of Christ's coming. While solo versions of this song can be exquisite (like those from Josh Groban or the incomparable Luciano Pavarotti), for my money, nothing beats a good choral arrangement of this piece (which are apparently hard to find on YouTube).

Honorable Mentions: "We Three Kings," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Little Drummer Boy"

So... what are some of your favorite Christmas carols?

Retrospect

Some details concerning the last few weeks, which I've not posted mainly due to busy-ness more than anything else. Finally, I indulge you.

• The fall play was a smashing success! For those new to me or my inane ramblings, I teach freshman Bible at my alma mater, Covenant Christian High School where I also assist with the drama program. Mid-November, I was given the opportunity to direct my first show - I chose John Patrick's "The Curious Savage," one of my perennial favorites. My cast was superb, realizing visions I didn't even know I'd had. Fantastic!My incredibly talented cast! They were absolutely amazing!
  
• Our youth group also had our annual fall retreat the weekend after the play. As always, it was a great time, with great speaking, worship, and fun. Our speaker was Larry Mitchell, a man who I've always found inspirational and challenging. Music was done by my good friend Sean Rose and his band Defining Rose (they're a relatively new band, but very talented - check 'em out!). Unfortunately, I was sick most of the weekend - NOT FUN!
  
  One of the highlights for me was our "Saturday Night Live" where students put together skits and performed them. The highlight of the night was two of the high school girls dressing up like the youth pastor and I and doing fake announcements. Brilliant!The Scotts (Scott & Kelsey) and the Stephens (Bethany a.k.a. 'Danger' and I)
  
• Thanksgiving, as it usually is, was fantastic! I ate far too much (yet not as much as I would be known to eat in years past - guess this diet's working after all) and got too goof off with my wonderful family! Loads of fun!As promised, the (in)famous picture of me demolishing the turkey leg
  
• Black Friday was also my father's birthday. I was up and at the comic book store at 7:00am for my comic book guy's door-buster sale. It was great! I picked up a couple of trade paperbacks I'd been wanting, as well as a Batman statue - all at severe discounts! Who says it doesn't pay to be a nerd sometimes?Batman, guarding my computer (along with 'Iron' Spidey)
• After the escapades of the morning, the family went out for sushi to celebrate Dad's birthday. Dad had never had sushi before, so I suppose it was an experiment of sorts. Dad tried some non-raw sushi and seemed to enjoy it. My mom, on the other hand, had a tuna roll and about gagged. *Sigh* Ah, well...Mmm... sushi... (note the octopus on the tray in the background - tasty!)
• Then, Saturday. I went out with my friend Anita for some more sushi - can't get enough! - and we watched Waiting for Guffman which may very well be one of the best comedies in the history of ever. I went home about 11:30... and managed to total my car on the way home. This was only the beginning of my trauma. Fortunately, I was the only one involved and was not hurt at all (thanks to the beauty of German engineering)... but unfortunately, my insurance had been cancelled earlier in the month due to nonpayment. So, I was basically out a car... and my license is getting suspended for three months (starting whenever the officer on the scene files the paperwork). I figure, if that's the worst of it, then I'm getting off rather light. God is good and continues to bless - I'm a walking testament to that - but let it never be said that some lessons are learned the hard way.
  

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Comic Book Movies

As crazy as life's been lately, it's been difficult for me to update with any amount of regularity. Unfortunately, this is likely going to get worse with Christmas right around the corner and J-Term and the musical happening almost immediately after that. Still, now seems as good a time as any to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart - comic book movies. With the almost electric buzz surrounding the upcoming Watchmen film, there's been a lot of talk as to what the best comic book movies are/have been. So, here's the list of my top five.

5. Superman II (1980)

While 1978's Superman: The Movie let Hollywood know that superheroes could legitimately be done on the silver screen (by making us all believe a man could fly), it was the sequel that really perfected the series. Expanding the Superman mythos by including a trio of Kryptonian killing machines as well as the genius of Hackman's Lex Luthor, Superman II answers the question, "What if the world had no Superman?" Better than the original and far better than its three predecessors (and, yes, I'm including 2006's 'should-have-been-a-relaunch' Superman Returns), Superman II is the beacon of the Superman series.

4. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Yet another sequel that surpassed the original (which seems to be a trend on this list), X2 took everything that was good about the first X-Men film and made it bigger! From the opening sequence involving Nightcrawler 'porting through the White House to the first appearance of Colossus to Wolverine going berserker... X2 has it all. Of course it helps that Nightcrawler - one of my favorite mutants - finally got time on the big screen. X2 also did what the first film couldn't do in terms of story - it fleshed out the characters even more and created some truly unforgettable moments. It's a shame that Brett Ratner had to come along and ruin the whole franchise...

3. Batman Begins (2005)
After the horrid Joel Schumacher renditions from the late 1990's, Batman needed a Hollywood makeover... so thank heaven for Christopher Nolan, critically-acclaimed director of Memento and Insomnia, who gave the Batman franchise the shot-in-the-arm it desperately needed. Defying convention, Nolan concentrated on the origins of the Caped Crusader only putting Christian Bale (in my mind, the best Batman to date) in costume for little over a half an hour. He also opted to focus on some lesser-known Bat-villains like the Scarecrow and R'as al Ghul rather than bigger names like the Joker or the Penguin. All these risks paid off in full as Batman Begins reminded moviegoers of just how awesome the Dark Knight really is.

2. Iron Man (2008)
Marvel has had a lot of hits on their hands ever since the first X-Men movie in 2000, but none have been quite as well-done as this year's summer smash, Iron Man. The elements of story, direction, effects, characterization, and score fit together so well. Robert Downey, Jr. owned the film as the charismatic billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. Jeff Bridges was villainous perfection as Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. the Iron Monger) while Gwenyth Paltrow lit up the screen as the sweet Pepper Potts. The biggest weak point of the film was Terrance Howard's far-t00-subdued performance as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, making me happy to see Don Cheadle stepping into the role for the sequel. With the Nick Fury cameo leading to an Avengers movie and the fact that this is Marvel's first film as their own independent studio, I would say that Iron Man is Marvel's greatest achievement to date.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
If Superman: The Movie proved that Hollywood could do a superhero film well, then The Dark Knight proved that a superhero film could be an Oscar-caliber event. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and the rest of the cast of Batman Begins returned to pit the titular Dark Knight against his greatest foe: the Joker, masterfully played by Heath Ledger. I'll admit, I was as skeptical as anyone when I heard Ledger was going to play the Joker... but, like so many other comic fans and moviegoers, I was blown away by the caliber of his performance. Ledger was a runaway freight train, bowling over every other character in the film and giving audiences a new vision of horror and villainy. Now, with The Dark Knight being re-released in theaters to remind the Academy of Ledger's performance, it seems legit that some Oscar attention might finally be paid to a superhero movie... and, in my mind, it's long overdue!

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Sin City (2005), X-Men (2000), 300 (2006), Spider-Man (2002), Superman: The Movie (1978)

So... what are some of your favorite comic book movies?

A lot to be thankful for...

Tomorrow is one of my all-time favorite holidays. I love Thanksgiving. Maybe it's the time I get to spend with my wacky family. Maybe it's all the amazing food. Maybe it's that I don't have to go into work (okay... so it's DEFINITELY that).

Here are some of my favorite things about Thanksgiving.

1. The Food
You might say that the food makes the gathering. In a lot of ways, I'm inclined to agree. I'm a firm believer that good food can make a good conversation even better (and that bad food can have a negative effect on even a good conversation). That having been said, when the Foxworthys get together, we do it up right!

The owner of the house we inhabit gets turkey duty. That's just law. The rest of us compensate with the sides. By this point, we pretty much all have our respective assignments. My parents make a relish tray (which includes these awesome beef-and-cream-cheese roll-ups). Mom makes sausage stuffing. My cousin Sara brings the rolls. My Aunt Denise (when she comes) does the sweet potato casserole. My cousin Roberta makes the pies. Emilee does the green beans. And me? I get to do the smoked gouda mashed potatoes.

Lemme tell you about these beauties: a few years ago, I was watching Food Network with my dad and saw Emeril Lagasse (whom I can no longer stand - he annoys me) on TV prepping some mashed potatoes with melted gouda cheese in them. I turn to my dad and say something to the effect of, "Those look good. I think I'll make 'em for Thanksgiving this year." And I did. They were a hit (with most of the family anyway - my uncle Jack prefers the 'traditional' taters) and so I was delegated to making them every year. It really is something to look forward to for me - I really enjoy it! One year, I devised my own recipe for Loaded Mashed Potatoes, but it really didn't seem to have the same appeal as the smoked gouda taters. So, I continue on. The recipe for the Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes can be found by following that link. The Loaded Mashed recipe? Maybe I'll post it one of these days...

2. The Family
I love my family. If people think I'm crazy, they can spend an hour or so with my family and know that I come by it honestly. We all nuts! Combined with the fact that we're nuts is the fact that we're all great cooks. Seriously. Amazing. Perhaps this should be an addendum to the 'food' portion, but we just love to cook in our family. No joke. My grandfather, Joe Foxworthy, was a cook in the U.S. Navy for several years and he passed on his love for and knowledge of food to all of his kids, who have in turn passed it down to their kids. And, assuming I have any, I'll pass it on to my kids. If I have any.

But back to my family. We laugh. We bicker. We sing. We cook. We eat. We are friggin' merry. It's just not a holiday without the Foxworthy clan. S'just not.

3. The Picture
Ever since I was a kid, my mom has been taking pictures of me eating a turkey drumstick. And every year, I reserve one drumstick for myself and let everyone else fight it out for the other.

Actually, 'the picture' hasn't been a REGULAR thing... or, at least, it wasn't until about 1999 or 2000. At that point, Mom snapped a picture of me gnawing into a turkey leg while wearing a shirt that proudly proclaimed "BITE ME!" (it had a picture of a mosquito on it - get it?). Since then, the pic has become a staple. I don't think I have any copies from the last couple of years, but the below pics are from 2004 and 2005, respectively.

<-- Thanksgiving '04

Thanksgiving '05 -->

Well, gang, those are my top 3 favorite things about Thanksgiving. If I get around to it, I'll post tomorrow's picture up here so you can see it. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Enter, Sandman... please?

It's odd. Any given night of my life, I can hear my phone going off at 2:30am because my friends from the other side of the country decide to text me, roll over, and still manage to go back to sleep.

For whatever reason... not tonight. Having been sick for the last four days and only now beginning to start feeling better... tonight's the night I can't sleep. Fabulous.

So what does the man do with his time in the wee hours of the A.M.?

Why, naturally, he:

• uploads pictures from the weekend.
• Facebook-stalks people he hasn't seen in years then, realizing how creepy it kinda is, stops and Facebook-stalks people he's seen more recently.
• gets thirsty but refuses to get up and go get a glass of water.
• listens to Patty Griffin's beautiful cover of Tom Waits' "Ruby's Arms" on YouTube (which he's had stuck in his head for at least a week).
• imagines what it would be like to be sleeping right now.
• reads an issue or two out of the third StormWatch trade, "Change or Die".
• watches a video of the Bible teachers at CCHS singing a rewritten version of Third Day's "You Are Beautiful, My Sweet, Sweet Song" about us.
• sucks it up and gets a drink of water anyway because it's so dadgum hot in the office.
• decides to go lay in bed for the last hour-and-three-quarters before his alarm goes off.

Cheers!

"On with the show, THIS IS IT!"

The Curious Savage Bios from Brenton Oechsle on Vimeo.

Here's a video made for this weekend's performances of the play I've directing (hence my absence from blogging), John Patrick's "The Curious Savage". For anyone anxious to attend, go ahead and check out Covenant's Fine Arts site for more details!

Hope to see you there!

"Deus Ex Machina Politica" Revisited

A couple months ago, I posted my political views up here for anyone to view. I think in this time of politicians shouting and schmoozing, slinging mud and kissing babies.

Vote, Christian Americans. Not on one issue or on who looks better. Vote your convictions and vote for the candidate who best represents the biblical worldview (insanely difficult, I know). Most importantly, pray for our future president, whoever he may be. Both men profess Christ as Lord and Savior - so pray that He guides their thoughts and actions once in office.

This has been a P.S.A. from Stephen E. Foxworthy. Thank you, and God bless America.

Halloween Songs

Every holiday has its great music... and Halloween is no exception. I'm the kind of guy who prides himself on his ability to come up with great mix CD and a few years ago, I put together what I considered a great Halloween mix. It included the following:

1. Alice Cooper - "Welcome to My Nightmare"
2. Nightmare Before Christmas - "This is Halloween"
3. Misfits - "Halloween"
4. Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers - "Monster Mash"
5. Heywood Banks - "Halloween"
6. Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera' - "Phantom of the Opera"
7. Rocky Horror Picture Show - "Time Warp"
8. Little Shop of Horrors - "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space"
9. 'Weird Al' Yankovic - "Nature Trail to Hell (in 3-D)"
10. Warren Zevon - "Werewolves of London"
11. Michael Jackson - "Thriller"
12. Meat Loaf - "Bat Out of Hell"
13. Jimmy Fallon - "Halloween Carols"
14. Dropkick Murphys - "Halloween"
15. Spinal Tap - "Back from the Dead"
16. Five Iron Frenzy - "Screams in the Night"
17. Blue Oyster Cult - "Don't Fear the Reaper" (because what Halloween is complete without cowbell?)

This year, I thought I'd revisit the concept and create a new mix for a new year. Last year, I focused a lot on humorous tracks - 'Weird Al,' Jimmy Fallon, Little Shop..., Heywood Banks, and Spinal Tap - so this year I opted for a more serious approach. I have included some classics that didn't make it on the last list and a couple creepy instrumentals that seemed essential. Let me know what you think.

1. Meat Loaf - "Seize the Night"
2. Rockwell - "Somebody's Watchin' Me"
3. 'Evil Dead: The Musical' - "Do the Necrinomicon"
4. Alice Cooper - "Feed My Frankenstein"
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival - "I Put a Spell on You"
6. Santana - "Black Magic Woman"
7. Cranberries - "Zombies"
8. Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"
9. Rage Against the Machine - "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
10. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - "A Nightmare on My Street"
11. Edgar Winter Group - "Frankenstein"
12. Eagles - "Witchy Woman"
13. Van Halen - "Running With the Devil"
14. Pink Floyd - "Careful With That Axe, Eugene"
15. Gerard McMann - "Cry, Little Sister" (from The Lost Boys)
    
16. MC Hammer - "Addams Groove"
    

Any other necessities I'm missing? Let me know!

Human Zombie

The grading is done.

I was at school (with my wonderful sister whom I don't appreciate enough) 'til 12:30 am.

I have three shots of espresso in my body.

I hope I can make it.

Urgh...

Above: The cast of TOTS's "Evil Dead: The Musical"
(...'cuz they're zombies... which is how I feel today... yeah...)

New Logo

Look! Up at the top of the page! It's magnificent! It's eye-catching!

No! It's Stephen's new logo!

A little something I whipped up today. Hopefully it adds more than it detracts.

A few quick updates:

• I've been keeping incredibly busy! My students just finished their first nine weeks at CCHS and are a bit haggard from the experience. Which is to say nothing of their teacher. Between teaching, directing the fall play, and working with my youth group, I'm slowly wearing myself out. Five more weeks 'til showtime... five more weeks 'til showtime...
• And, speaking of showtime: everyone needs to come and see Covenant's fall play - John Patrick's "The Curious Savage". It's a great story and one of my favorite plays (naturally, that's why I'm directing it). The cast is really doing an excellent job, so make their day (and mine... and, who knows, quite possibly YOURS) by coming to see it on November 14-15. Call the school for ticket information.
• I got my school pictures today. They are awesome. With any luck, I'll get some posted soon.
• I have A TON of grading to get through! Tests! Binders! Homework! Quizzes! It's tempting to go on a homework embargo... and, if I thought I could get away with it, I would!
• Seriously, if you haven't thought about it, GO SEE "EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL"!! It rocked my face up to eleven! No joke!
  

Well, that's just a brief recap of my life as of late and why I've been neglecting my small (but allegedly faithful) blog readership. May this satisfy you until I post again in four or five weeks...

Of Blood Packs and Boomsticks - an amateur review of "Evil Dead: The Musical" (and the events surrounding it)

I suppose I should start at the beginning. When I woke up Friday morning, I had no idea there was even such a thing as "Evil Dead: The Musical". I had no idea there was a cult classic musical based on the cult classic film series that had been a smash hit in Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Not only that, but I was blissfully unaware that the musical was having its Midwest debut that very night in my own city. I knew none of those things.

On my way to work that morning, I turned on the radio to Z 99.5 (which I listen to in the mornings only because the daytime DJ amuses me). My ears perked up when he announced that his in-studio guests were members of the cast of "Evil Dead: The Musical". As they performed a number from the show - "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed By Candarian Demons" (which ended up being one of my favorites) - I couldn't help but laugh. So amused was I by the song, I decided to call the station to see when it was running. The conversation went something like this:

Producer: "Hello, Smiley Morning Show!"
Me: "Yeah, I think this musical sounds great! How long is it running?"
Producer: "Uh... through Halloween, I think."
Me: "Through Halloween? Cool. Hey, are you guys gonna be giving away tickets?"
Producer: "Uh, not yet..."
Me: "Do you know when you might be doing that?"
Producer: "Hold on a second."

And, suddenly, I'm put on hold. He comes back a second later and asks for my name and, suddenly, I'm talking with the DJ, who's telling me that they're gonna give me tickets. No stupid contests or trivia games - I just get them. The catch? They were for the opening night show... that night.

Two tickets. One me. A problem arose - who would I take? My sister (whom I usually go on these little excursions with), though she would appreciate the humor and likes the odd musical, would probably not like the horror aspect (campy though it was). I called a few other friends, who all were busy - either working or having made other plans. I was running out of options.

Finally, I mentioned the musical to one of the new teachers at CCHS whom I'd befriended over the course of the past nine weeks. He seemed interested, so I invited him along. He even went so far as to invite his wife and buy her a ticket at the box office (which I didn't mind in the least - the more the merrier!). So the three of us were on our way to see "Evil Dead: The Musical". It turns out they were great people to see the show with, too. They were really excited about the prospect of sitting in the "splatter zone" (where you're more likely to get hit with fake blood) and got a kick out of a lot of the gags and jokes in the show.

The show itself was too much fun. More fun than I've had at the theatre in a long time! I wasn't overly impressed with the first act, but the second act more than won me over with numbers like "Bit Part Demon," "Do the Necrinomicon," and the aforementioned "All the Men in My Life..." and classic lines like 'Good, bad... I'm the guy with the gun' and 'This is my boomstick!'. The actors were really quite good as well - all local talent (which I found refreshing) who enjoyed the campy horror elements as much (if not more) than the audience. It was obvious they were having a lot of fun on the stage, which is the makings of a great show in anyone's book.

One of the characters got under my skin a bit, mainly because she spoke entirely in bad puns (which anyone who knows me well knows that I abhor). The actress herself was good enough and had a good range of emotion (more evident before her character gets turned into a demon). The actor portraying Ash was more than effective. He is no Bruce Campbell (but seriously, who is?), but he did manage to play the part well enough, recalling the film well. One of the actors later told me that he'd rehearsed the role extensively, and it was very evident. He did well. The real standout, in my mind, was the actress playing Shelly and Annie. She played not one, but two roles with ease. She was an obvious comedianne who played each moment well, without pandering to the audience or being overly obvious. I found out later that five of the cast members were improvers... and, once again, it seemed obvious looking back. These were people who understood humor.

I could go into a lot more details about the show - like the little nuances that made the show great, the show-stopping musical numbers, and the rest - but I really think that, if this sounds 'up your alley' then you should definitely check it out. Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors and students) and can be ordered at Theatre on the Square. While you order tickets, I'll let you know about the after-party.

Ah, yes. An after-party. The entire audience was invited to an after-party/opening night reception at the Scholar's Inn (about a block from the playhouse). The three of us decided to take them up on it. So, not knowing anyone really, we went down to the restaurant and chilled outside. We chatted with each other for a while and, when the cast showed up, we got a chance to talk with them. Particularly, we talked with Luke McDonnell (who played the mostly mute Ed) and Evan Wesselmann (who played party-boy best friend Scott). Both guys seemed pretty cool and we chatted with them for a couple of hours, actually. Evan busted out his impressions of everyone from Peter Griffin and Mr. Burns to Christopher Walken and George Carlin, while Luke chatted with us about the show, his theatrical background and any topic that popped up. We didn't end up leaving until 1:00am.

All in all, a great time. I plan on seeing this show again at some point, but you should also go and check it out. The cast is one of the best local groups I've seen in a while and the show itself is reminiscent of shows like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Reefer Madness" (other movies-turned-musicals). Check it!

Emmy Highlights

So, my roommate Brett and I turned on the Primetime Emmys last night (remember when they were just called 'The Emmys' and they didn't have to distinguish from 'Daytime' and 'Primetime'? Ahh... those were the days!) in order to watch the wonder and amazement that was 'the Primetime Emmys'!

...man, was I disappointed...

Some highlights:

• I'm not sure who's decision it was to make the five contestants for 'Best Reality Show Host' the hosts for the show, but whoever they are, they need to be fired. Badly. Worst decision ever! The egos were enormous - I'm amazed they were able to fit Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol") and Howie Mandel ("Deal or No Deal") on the same stage! Tom Bergeron ("Dancing With the Stars") and Jeff Probst ("Survivor") were just awkward, and, though she was gorgeous (as always), Heidi Klum ("Project Runway") contributed nothing. The opening bit ("We have... nothing planned!") was like watching a train wreck and it really didn't get better from there. The best bit with them all night wasn't even theirs, but Jimmy Kimmel's, who played the announcement of the winner like an episode of "American Idol" - announcing that each nominee was "in the final two" and then taking a commercial break right before announcing the winner. When the winner was announced, Kimmel held out a card with the name of the winner - Jeff Probst of "Survivor" - just like on "Survivor".
• Jeremy Piven: "Do you want me to just stand up here and talk for twelve minutes? That was the whole intro!"
  
• Steve Martin showed everyone what true comedic genius really is. Had the Academy just let him (or another funny comedian) host, the show would've been better by far. His honorary award to Dick Smothers was as hilarious as it was heartfelt.
• Ricky Gervais punking on Steve Carrell to hand over the Emmy he won last year (that John Stewart and Stephen Colbert 'awarded' to Carrell as Gervais was in absentia). As a diehard fan of the British "Office," I liked seeing Carrell get his comeuppance at the hands of a better comedian!
• Don Rickles! If you didn't see it, check YouTube or something! Dude had me in stitches all night! Even Kathy Griffin seemed to be losing her composure - which seemed odd.
• Neil Patrick Harris: "Thanks to Howie Mandel's incessant prattling, our bit has been cut."
  Kristen Chenoweth: "Bitter, party of two!"
• Barry Sonnenfeld: "Love television, fear the Internet."
• "John Adams" took home bucco awards! I always feel a small personal victory when Paul Giamatti wins anything, so it was awesome to see him take home "Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Made-For-TV Movie"! I also loved the exchange between Sally Field and Tom Hanks when she presented him the award for "Best Miniseries" (Hanks executive produced). It went a little something like this:
  Sally Field: "How you been, son?"
  Tom Hanks: "Fine, Mama. (pause) Mama always said, 'Life...' Ah, forget it!"
• Craig Ferguson: "Brooke... I've always respected you."
  Brooke Shields: "Is that your hand on my @$$?"
  Craig Ferguson: "Yes... and it's respecting you."
• There was a lot of hooplah regarding a "Laugh-In" cast reunion. It was unbearably cheesy! If you didn't used to watch the show, you were pretty much up a creek in terms of understanding what the heck was going on... and a lot of them just weren't as funny as they used to be.
  

All in all, I suppose the show wasn't too bad, but the hosts did drag the proceedings down a bit. Towards the end, presenters were just running out, saying, "We're running out of time! Here are the nominees!" The writer's strike made for a pretty lackluster season, this I know - but, hopefully, with things back to normal, next year will pick up and things will improve dramatically!

My Very Own BBQ Sauce Recipe

My grandparents came down this weekend and so I whipped up some of my homemade barbecue sauce for them to take back with them. It came highly recommended - my sister, who is pretty picky about what she eats (and is very selective about her barbecue sauces), really enjoys it. So, I thought I'd share the recipe with you. I find it works best when you smother it over leftover pot roast, but it also tastes good with grilled chicken.

Stephen's Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients*:

• 1 large shallot, finely chopped**
• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped or thinly sliced
  
• extra virgin olive oil
  
• pinch of salt
  
• 2 c. ketchup
• 1/2-1 c. mustard (depending on how mustardy you want it)
  
• 2 tbsp. dark molasses
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. liquid smoke
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrins)
• 3 splashes of hot sauce (optional - I like Frank's Red Hot)
  

Preparation:

1. In a small saucepan, saute shallot and garlic over medium-low heat until soft.
2. Once shallots and garlic are softened, add ketchup and mustard and stir everything together until it starts to bubble.
3. Add remaining ingredients, stirring after each addition.
4. Reduce to low heat and let simmer, covered, for a few minutes, then remove from heat. By now, it should be reddish-brown in color***. Let stand for a couple minutes before transporting to the fridge. (If you wanted to add pot roast, now would be a good time as it reheats the pot roast to eating temperature.) Ideally, you'll want this to cool to give the flavors time to marry together. Then, spread over grilled items or use as a dipping sauce!
   

* (Note: All the 'liquid' measurements - ketchup, mustard, liquid smoke, etc. - are estimates. This recipe can really be tailored to the individual tastes of the maker.)
** Feel free to substitute the shallot with a small onion. Works just as well.
*** For a darker, sweeter sauce, double the amount of dark molasses you use.

Friday's Top Five - Best Movie Casts

Sorry to have gone so long without an update. Life's been pretty hectic as of late. Now... on with the list!

In my mind, there's little that can make a good movie even better than a fantastic ensemble. Some movies are lucky to have one or two good-to-great actors in order to bolster sales and increase viewership, but there is not like a plurality of those kinds of actors to make it an instant classic! Here are some of my favorite ensemble casts:

5. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Starring Academy Award winners like Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Kim Basinger (in the role that won her that Oscar), nominees like James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Danny DeVito, and Satellite Award nominee Guy Pearce, L.A. Confidential is a story about love, loss, and betrayal in a town where such words are more commonplace than shamed actors. Each actor in the film is simply spectacular, particularly Crowe and Pearce, who play two sides of the same coin as the only honest cops in a crooked department. Easily one of the better casts assembled in recent years, it's amazing they lost the SAG 'Best Ensemble' to *shudder* The Full Monty.

4. A Few Good Men (1992)
In a cast led by three-time Oscar nominee Tom Cruise (in that cocky role he was born to play), three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, and two-time Golden Globe nominee Demi Moore, A Few Good Men (directed by Oscar nominee Rob Reiner) also stars the ubiquitous Kevin Bacon, the amazing Kiefer Sutherland, the hilarious Kevin Pollack, and the incomparable J.T. Walsh along with cameos by Christopher Guest, Noah Wyle, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Based on the Aaron Sorkin play, the story has it all - intruigue, murder, suspense, humor, and sharp banter and dialogue... all delivered by a truly capable and worthy cast. Though often one-dimensional, Cruise holds his own against Nicholson (no easy feat) and Sutherland lights up the screen, giving off a raw dislikability that few others can master.

3. The Usual Suspects (1995)
A film that, for me, became an immediate classic (particularly because of its amazing ending), The Usual Suspects has one of the greatest casts I've even seen. Think about it. Gabriel Byrne. Kevin Spacey. Chazz Palminteri. Benicio del Toro. Pete Postlethwaite. Kevin Pollack. Heck, even Stephen Baldwin turns in a decent performance (one of his only, that I've seen). The ensemble here performed so seemlessly and so brilliantly that there could be no doubt in anyone's mind that these men were all hardened criminals who would stab you in the face at a moment's notice. A brilliant ensemble cast!

2. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Based on a David Mamet play (which, in retrospect, should have made my list of favorite plays a couple weeks ago), this film stars Oscar winners Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, and Alan Arkin and nominees Ed Harris and Alec Baldwin, and Cannes Best Actor Jonathan Pryce... and they work together beautifully! Jack Lemmon called this cast the best ensemble he'd ever worked with. From a Hollywood legend of Lemmon's caliber, that's high praise indeed! If you don't like language, you won't like GGR, but if you can handle it, this movie is gripping, human, and brilliantly-acted!

1. Heat (1995)
One of the greatest ensembles I've ever seen. It's incredibly historic as well, being the first movie in which the legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro actually appeared onscreen together. Not only does this movie feature these two cinematic giants, but it also features Val Kilmer (The Saint), Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance), Tom Sizemore (Black Hawk Down), Diane Venora (Romeo + Juliet), Amy Brenneman (TV's "Judging Amy"), Ashley Judd (Kiss the Girls), Myketli Williamson (Forrest Gump), Wes Studi (Last of the Mohicans), Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, TV's "Monk"), Dennis Haysbert (TV's "24" and the All State commercials), Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta, Closer), Danny Trejo (Desperado, Con Air), William Fitchner (The Longest Yard, TV's "Prison Break"), Hank Azaria (Run Fatboy Run, TV's "The Simpsons"), Tone Loc (singer of "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina"), and even a young Jeremy Piven (TV's "Entourage")! With a cast like this, it's no wonder that Heat - directed by Michael Mann (Academy Award nominated director of Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Ali, and Collateral) - ranks as one of my all-time favorite action movies and my all-time favorite ensemble film cast!

Honorable mentions: Hamlet (1996), Best in Show (2000), Pulp Fiction (1994), Reservoir Dogs (1992), A Time to Kill (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998)

So, what are some of your favorite movie ensembles?

Should I put this on my resume?

Or, for that matter, should you? Don't we owe it all to ourselves to call TIME Magazine on what is quite possibly the lamest "Person of the Year" ever and put it on all of our resumes, business cards, etc.? Would it be unethical? Am I a year and a half too late with this observation (seeing as how we were all TIME's 2006 'Person of the Year')?

Friday's Top Five - Plays

Well, it's that time of year again - fall play season! This year, I'm directing my first show at CCHS which has me very excited, but I know it'll be a lot of work! With that in mind, I've put together a list of my top five favorite shows! Enjoy!

5. "You Can't Take It With You" by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
One of the funniest ensemble shows you can find is "You Can't Take It With You". A large enough cast to accommodate even the largest of theatre programs, this show has big heart and even bigger laughs. I was first introduced to this show in the fall of 2003 when we did it up at Olivet. I played Boris Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher, and had a great deal of fun with everyone in the cast. Sure, it's a bit preachy and moralistic... but, written at the height of the Great Depression, how could it afford not to be?
The great story of an eccentric family with a young daughter who's madly in love with the son of a wealthy, uptight businessman, "You Can't Take It With You" follows the Sycamore family through their daughter Alice's courtship with an insane cast of characters like something out of sheer insanity! A family with so many varied interests - ballet, playwrighting, xylophoning, masks, fireworks, candies, printing, painting, snakes, and well, too many other things to name - can all become lost in the shuffle at times, but the play remains humorous, despite some obvious dating of the events and happenings.

4. "The Boys Next Door" by Tom Griffin
When I tell them I've played a mentally retarded man, most people always seem to wonder how I did it without offending people. But, played with honesty (thanks, Prof. Cohagan!), the part of Norman Bulansky became heartfelt and sincere. In fact, this play has more heart than any I've ever seen and, after performing it at ONU in the fall of 2004, it became an immediate favorite. Not many people know of it outside of theatre people, but I always feel I have a connection with those few individuals. Like we've stumbled on something great that the rest of the world is happily oblivious of. Check this show out, if you get the opportunity.
Entering the world of four mentally retarded men, "The Boys Next Door" is humorous in its honesty of their portrayal. Centering on their burnt-out social worker, Jack, "Boys" takes us into the lives of Arnold (an OCD man with a penchant for the dramatic), Norman (a loveable mentally retarded man who loves donuts and his girlfriend Sheila), Lucien (a severely retarded black man who can't read, but loves Spider-Man), and Barry (a marginal schizophrenic who pretends to be a golf pro). Taking the audience to unbelievably high feel-good moments to tear-inducing sadness and back to raucous laughter seems all at once natural and cathartic. Easily, one of the best shows I've ever done!

3. "The Curious Savage" by John Patrick
The only show I've ever done twice, "The Curious Savage" stands apart as one of the funniest shows I've ever done (and also as one of the most fun). My first trip was in the spring of '03 at Olivet where I played a violin-playing statistician-turned-mental patient. The second was in the summer of '05 when I played the overbearing senator whose step-mother had been locked in an institution. Both times, I had such unbelievable fun that when the time came to choose my first show to direct at CCHS, I couldn't think of a better show to put on.
Tracing the life of an eccentric elderly woman who has been committed to an institution by her stepchildren after the death of her husband, "The Curious Savage" draws a fine line between those whom society deems 'insane' and 'dangerous' and society itself. The real trick, however, is that it does so with a charm and wit that is seldom seen in the theatre anymore. The characters it portrays are well-rounded, funny, and, probably most importantly, honest. I find myself relating to the "wicked" stepchildren, while at the same time loving the "guests" for their charm and sincerity.

2. "12 Angry Men" by Reginald Rose
Though I've never done the play, I've been a fan of Rose's "12 Angry Men" for quite a long time. When given the opportunity to see the Broadway touring company last spring, I leapt at the chance and was surely not disappointed. Rose creates a fantastic sense of drama that continues to be heightened throughout the show as these men compete with the heat and with each other. The show deals with the nature of truth and the power of a single dissenting voice. This is a show I would love to either be in or direct some day... though I'm not sure if either is a real likelihood at this point, unfortunately.
The story of a jury trying a murder case, Reginald Rose creates tension, animosity, and drama... and shoves it all into a cramped jury room. As the verdicts of 'guilty' resound around the room, only Juror #8 has the audacity to offer a plea of 'not guilty'. From there, the action begins as he slowly convinces every man in the jury room over to his point of view. As powerful as it is uncomfortable, "12 Angry Men" stands as a true triumph of theatre.

1. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett
This one falls amongst the most classic stories in theatre. Certainly one of the most popular of the 'absurdist' style (though probably not falling into that grouping itself), Beckett painted "Godot" around two imbecilic 'heroes' who have become theatrical legends. Vladmir and Estragon (or Didi and Gogo, respectively) are constantly waiting for the titular Godot but never seen to be able to remember exactly where they are or why. Playing with the philosophies of existensialism, "Godot" is often intentionally contradictory, leaving the audience as confused as the main characters. Fun additions are the bombastic Pozzo and the ironically-named Lucky, who torment Didi and Gogo (though not maliciously).
I first read this show in college, but saw it performed in the spring of 2007 at Olivet, directed by my good friend Matt McMahan. Expertly performed with perfect humor and appropriate amounts of despair, I was quite impressed with the production. I quickly found my own copy of the script and read it once every couple of years or so. This is the play that opened me up to the world of Beckett, so I'm incredibly thankful for that as well.

Honorable mentions: "Death of a Salesman" (Miller), "The Bald Soprano" (Ionesco), "A Doll's House" (Ibsen), "Tartuffe" (Moliere), "War to End All Wars" (Gebby), "Boy Kissing" (McMahan)

Note: I didn't include Shakespeare or musicals intentionally. That's another top five for another Friday.

Brad Meltzer, "The Book of Lies," and Superman's House

One of my favorite authors - political thriller novelist and DC Comic writer, Brad Meltzer - asked me for my help and I couldn't, in good conscience, turn him down for two reasons: (1.) I'm a big fan of his previous novels, "The Book of Fate" and "The Zero Game" (as well as his runs on "Identity Crisis"and "Justice League of America") and (2.) it's for a great cause! Check out the below links and videos and, if you're like me, check out his new book, "The Book of Lies," which hits stands today! Particularly check out the last video and link as well as the FAQ section below it, which details what it's all about and what you can do to help! Thanks, everyone!

"The Book of Lies" Conspiracy Trailer
starring Joss Whedon, Christopher Hitchens, Damon Lindelof, Brian K. Vaughn, and A.J. Jacobs

TheBookIsReal.com

"The Book of Lies" Review

BradMeltzer.com

Save the Seigel House

OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com

The following was attached to the e-mail I received this morning at midnight:

FAQ

What's this all about again?
Today is the official launch of The Siegel & Shuster Society, with a celebrity charity auction that'll raise money to preserve the home of Jerry Siegel, creator of Superman. When you go to Brad Meltzer's charitable website www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, you can:

• bid online for original Superman and comic book art and items by top writers and artists
• buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt (designed by the legendary graphic designer Chip Kidd)
• or just donate to the good cause.

The best way to show it is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc
All proceeds of the auction go to the restoration of the Siegel house.

Who's involved in the auction?
This is a coming together of an entire community. The full list includes: Stephen Colbert, Jim Lee, Brian Michael Bendis, Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Joe Quesada, Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross, Dave Gibbons, Jeph Loeb, Murphy Anderson, Ed Brubaker, John Cassaday, Gene Ha, Greg Rucka, George Perez, Michael Turner, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Judd Winick, Frank Cho, Eric Powell, Tim Sale, Walt Simonson, Joe Staton, Eric Wight, Dave Mandel, Mike Mignola, Rags Morales, Bill Morrison, Ivan Reis, John Romita Jr., Jason Palmer, Amanda Conner, Geoff Darrow, Ron Garney, Renato Guedes, Heroes, Dave Johnson, Chris Bachalo, Mike Bair, Allen Bellman, Dan Brereton, Ernie Chan, Travis Charest, and Ian Churchill, YOU, and even Jerry Siegel (see below).

How did this come about?
While researching his new novel, The Book of Lies, Brad Meltzer visited the boyhood home of Jerry Siegel in Cleveland, Ohio, where Superman was created. As Meltzer says, "The house where Google was founded is preserved. The garage where Hewlett Packard was founded is protected. But the house where Superman was born? I was in shock." After contacting dozens of comic book creators -- and thanks to the hard work of many in the city of Cleveland -- The Siegel & Shuster Society was created and is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the creation of Superman in Cleveland by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. "I think sometimes people take things like this for granted because it started in cartoon form, but this is a house were modern mythology was created," Brain Michael Bendis adds. "Mythology that will never die away or disappear. There is no difference, to me, between this house and Mark Twain's house. We have to honor and exalt such creation."

What are the items in the auction?
You can win a walk-on part on Heroes, VIP seats to the Colbert Report, original Superman art (go see the art!), have your name in Bendis or Brubaker or Rucka's comic, or Meltzer's next novel. There's a rare original pre-Superman movie script from Geoff Johns, signed by Richard Donner. And Joanne Siegel told Meltzer that before Jerry Siegel died, he signed six Superman t-shirts that no one ever knew existed -- and then told her that if their family ever needed money, she should sell the shirts. Instead, she donated one of them to be auctioned off here. The signature is on a Superman: Quest For Peace(!) t-shirt. C'mon, baby, it's Jerry Siegel on a Quest for Peace shirt!

What can you do?
Forward and digg the video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc ). Go buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt. They're cool. They're designed by Chip Kidd. They can't be bought anywhere else. Bid on some of the auctions and spread the word by sharing the video, sigs, and www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com auction with your facebook, myspace, and live-breathing friends.

How much is the Siegel And Shuster Foundation trying to raise?
Depends on how successful we are. Phase 1 involves working on the exterior of the house: securing the roof, making sure the paint isn't rotting, doing the concrete work. That will hopefully protect the place from the outside. Joe Shuster's house (a few blocks away) was in such disrepair, it was torn down. The first goal is to collect $50,000 to deal with the outside. If we do that, then we'll go and tackle the much-needed-repairs on the inside.

Who lives there now?
The house is located in one of the tougher neighborhoods of Cleveland and is currently occupied by an African-American couple who have lived there for approximately 20 years, who have put up with all of us who have come visiting, but who don't have the money to do these repairs. Rather than kick anyone out on the street, the goal is to repair this place for them. Why? It's the right thing to do. In return, The Siegel & Shuster Society has the right to buy the house when it eventually goes up for sale.

Is there a long-term goal to make a museum?
The long-term goal is still being decided, and that's why you're invited to join The Siegel & Shuster Society and help us with those plans. Meetings are held monthly in Cleveland -- when you buy a shirt, they'll have your name. But one of the dreams is that one day, buses full of students will drive from all over Ohio, from Michigan, from any nearby state, and come to the fully-restored house -- covered and decorated with children's artwork inside -- and see where one of the world's greatest dreams was born. Go to www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com to make it happen.