Voiceover for e-Learning for Kids Guided Tour

Click here to visit the e-Learning for Kids web siteIf you have or know kids grades 1-6, check out this great free e-Learning site! I contributed the voiceovers for the Guided Tour, and all the content is created by e-Learning professionals volunteering their time, which I think is fantastic.  Kids don’t need to register to use the site, so parents don’t have to worry about any personal information being collected, etc.  It’s a global initiative to give kids access to fun, free learning experiences from any pc with an internet connection.   Congrats again to Michael Williams, Director of Courseware Development, and to everyone involved in this worthy web site.

To visit the site, click the image on the right.  To see (and hear!) the Guided Tour, find the same Guided Tour image on the site’s home page and click on it there.  Enjoy, and spread the word!

Storypods Nonsense Poem Voiceovers

I became acquainted with Liz and Francis, the brains behind the Oxford-based Storypods Audiobooks when I reviewed their charming audio production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland a couple of years ago.  This year, Liz told me they were going to sponsor a nonsense writing competition, and asked me to be one of their judges.  I thanked her but declined since I felt that as President of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America I should remain neutral.  But I offered to record the two winning poems if my schedule allowed.  Liz thought that was a great idea, and happily there was time, so you can now listen to and download the two charming poems that won the competition.  Just click the image on the right to visit the Storypods site, and enjoy!

Mamarosh Shoot Wraps

I’ve completed my two days of shooting as Dorian, the tense gay TV producer, for the feature film Mamarosh.  My second day of shooting also happened to be the last day of shooting for the entire film, so I was there for the final wrap.  Over the course of shooting, I met and worked with so many nice and talented people it would make a long blog post to list them all, so instead I’ll link to the film’s IMDB info here.  In addition to the film’s stars, my first day of shooting involved a beautiful SOHO loft (supposedly owned by my character), a Persian cat, and a large pot of Army Bean Soup that changes my character’s life.  In the middle of the shoot, the skyline showing through all the loft’s many windows darkened ominously, and a massive lightning and thunder storm ensued, so we had to wait that out.  I found out later that the storm ended up sending tornadoes through Brooklyn and Queens!  My second day of shooting was for a brief non-speaking reappearance of my character on the set of the cooking show my character produces; it’s a cute bit.  And this time there was a vat of that Army Bean Soup!  After shooting wrapped, director Momcilo Mrdakovic made sure the soup was added to the table for the closing meal.  Word has it that they intend to show the film at Cannes next year.  My thanks again to Casting Directors Harley Kaplan and Brandon Powers for this opportunity, and to Moma, the cast, crew, and producers for an exciting experience.  Thanks also of course to my agent Renée Glicker and her team.  I can’t wait to see the finished film.  If you haven’t already viewed the trailer, you can click the image at the right to view it on YouTube.

In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play

I’ve just now realized to my astonishment that I never got around to doing a post about the Broadway production of Sarah Ruhl’s play In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play.  I’m particularly abashed, because it’s one of the best plays we’ve seen in a long, long time.  We caught it in its final week , and all I can say is that it deserved a much longer run, particularly with the beautiful production it was given.  The cast, including Michael Cerveris, Laura Benanti, Maria Dizzia, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Thomas Jay Ryan, Wendy Rich Stetson, and Chandler Williams all navigated Ms. Ruhl’s delicate dance of romantic misfires (or perhaps I should say short-circuits) and unsatisfied longings with honesty, sensitivity, and genuine feeling.  Director Les Waters applied the perfect gentle touch to reveal the play to be in equal parts funny and moving.  I’m now in love with this script; Ruhl manages to show us a world where most attempts at intimacy fail, sometimes hilariously, sometimes heartbreakingly, while infusing each interaction with a genuine compassion for every character.  She even throws in a little touch of magic realism at the end that gives us hope for change.  Annie Smart did the beautiful and very practical set, David Zinn the gorgeous period costumes, and Russell Champa the evocative lighting; all three elements play particularly key roles in this story that deals with secrets behind a door, the sheer difficulty of getting a woman out of restrictive corsets and dresses with too many buttons, and the dawn of electricity.  The fact that this play was inspired by real historical elements only makes it more illuminating and potent.  When my partner and I saw the show, we brought along a couple of my friends from the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, who were visiting from out of town.  We all loved the play and the production, and when I saw my friends again a few months later at an LCSNA meeting, the first thing one of them said to me was: “I’m still thinking about that play.”  And I knew exactly how he felt!  I bought the script recently and read it, and it’s a lovely, grown-up, genuinely thought-provoking work.  I hope I’ll have a chance to play Dr. Givings someday soon; in the meantime, I’ll look forward to seeing more productions of this superb piece.  Well done, Ms. Ruhl, and well done all.  Now I can’t wait to see Ms. Ruhl’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s sublime Orlando!

A New Feature Film Role: Mamarosh

Sometimes great things happen in surprising ways.  The independent feature film Mamarosh, which has already completed two-thirds of its filming in Europe, is now shooting the remainder of the film in New York.  I auditioned for the role of a pompous cinema manager.  Casting directors Brandon Powers and Harley Kaplan were very gracious, and the audition felt like a good rehearsal session.  I was called back, and my agent’s office told me that the writer/director, Momcilo Mrdakovic, actually wanted to read me for the role of Dora, a diva television producer–a role originally written for a woman!  I was very excited by that outside-the-box thinking.  I went in to the callback, and suggested rechristening the character “Dorian.”  Again, it was a roomful of friendly, collaborative energy, and we had a lot of fun trying different approaches to the two scenes.  I remember leaving the callback in high spirits, and found myself quietly singing “Georgia named her, Georgia claimed her, Sweet Georgia Brown!”  as I walked up the street toward the train home.  I felt like “Dorian” was the right name for the character, and hoped that I had indeed “claimed” him.  A few days later, my agent’s office called to say that I had landed the role!  I’m looking forward to my two days of shooting over the next two weeks.  Since a lot of the film has already been shot, they already have a very evocative trailer up on YouTube.  It makes me even more eager to be a part of the film.  Click the image to watch it!

e-Learning for Kids Guided Tour Voiceover

When I presented my eLearning voiceovers seminar at the eLearning Guild’s March 2010 conference in Orlando, I met a lot of bright, creative, super-friendly people.  One of those folks was Michael Williams, who is Director of Courseware Development for a great non-profit called “e-Learning for Kids.”  They run a web site of free interactive elearning for grades 1-6.  The content is created by elearning professionals who generously donate their time and skills to this globally-available learning resource.  The courses are colorful, fun, engaging, and 100% free.  Kids don’t even have to register to take the modules.  They just go to the site, choose a grade or a subject area, and dive in.  I was impressed with the course samples I saw at the conference, and I’m also a big believer in educational outreach for kids.  I give free readings at elementary schools twice a year for the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, and also visit schools to give talks.  So, I gave Michael my card, and told him to drop me a line if he ever needed voiceovers for a project.

Last week, Michael contacted me to ask if I’d be willing to create the voiceovers for a new Guided Tour they’re creating for the e-Learning for Kids web site.  I said sure!  I sent him a couple of sample audio files to give him an idea of the vocal timbre I thought most appropriate, and he agreed those were right on the money.  We finalized the script, I laid down the tracks, and I sent the finished Mp3 files along to Michael.  I included an alternate “take” of the last audio clip, with an additional “tag” that he loved, so that’s the one they’ll use in the Tour.   Once the Tour is posted on their site, I’ll do another update!  If you have kids, or know kids, grades 1-6, I recommend you take a look at their site.  What a great free resource!  Click the image to visit their site.

The Final Episode of The Disengaged Dozen is Now On YouTube!

Well, this is it.  The end of the road.  At least for my Disengaged Dozen series of video ads.  Episode 6, the last of the series, has just been posted on YouTube.  This time, my character (Benny the Boss) has to contend with an employee who just can’t seem to manage his time.  Know anyone like that?  Watch the clip to see if Benny comes up with a solution, or jets Captain Shirk into the intergalactic unemployment line.  Matthew Wages does a great sendup of William Shatner.  If you enjoy the clip, I hope you’ll click the “Like” button on YouTube, and maybe post a nice comment there.  Who knows, if enough people share the Disengaged Dozen links, and generate enough feedback, maybe the producers will make the other six videos with me as Benny.  My bow tie stands ready.  Clap your hands if you believe!

My thanks again to the Bernard Hodes Group, my co-stars, the whole crew, and especially to writer/director Dewey Moss, for a great experience, and six very clever videos.  I’m delighted to have been part of the campaign.

Episode 5 of the Disengaged Dozen is Now on YouTube

Here we go, folks!  Episode #5 in a series of 6.  This time around, my character Benny the Boss discovers an employee busy polishing his resumé on the job.  What’s a manager to do?  Click the picture to find out!  And if you enjoy the video, remember to click the “Like” button on YouTube.  Kevin Resnick is a hoot as the unhappy employee, trying desperately to cover his tracks.  Writer/director Dewey Moss had a field day with the lines for this one, not to mention all those wacky phone calls.  Classic.  Enjoy!  Only one more after this episode.

Episode 4 of The Disengaged Dozen is Now on YouTube

I’m back online in part four of the six-part series The Disengaged Dozen.  This time, my character Benny the Boss is faced with employee Sandy Bagger, an unhappy and devious camper determined to pull the rug out from under Benny.  David Perlman is a hoot as Sandy, and I had great fun playing straight man to his nefarious doings.  Writer/director Dewey Moss of the Bernard Hodes Group clearly had a field day with this one. 

Will Sandy succeed in sandbagging Benny??  Click the picture on the right to find out!  (And remember to click “Like” on YouTube!)

David Mamet’s Race

Last week, we went to see buddy Afton C. Williamson, who has stepped into the starring role of Susan in David Mamet’s hot-button Broadway play, Race.  Afton was every bit as fabulous as I would have expected, and the role turned out to be a very juicy one!  It was great seeing her take advantage of it, and claim her space alongside wonderful co-stars Eddie Izzard (whom we also loved in the stunning Joe Egg revival a few years back, as well as in his one-man standup shows), Dennis Haysbert (super in the play, and maybe one of the nicest smiles on Broadway), and Richard Thomas (whom we loved in Terrence McNally’s fascinating Prelude and Liebestod).  Izzard and Haysbert are beautifully matched as a lethal (and very real) pair of lawyers, Thomas radiates the utter blindness of an overprivileged party boy, and Afton deftly supplies the necessary Mamet “spark” to kindle the flames.  All were excellent, and all were clearly having a great time with each other, playing out Mamet’s sly, twisty, and provocative plot.  I recall the reviews dubbing this play a lesser work, but I’d have to disagree.  I think it’s economical, and makes its points beautifully.  It throws the audience into a race-related legal situation,  and stirs up the plot repeatedly with little revelations so that as audience members we’re constantly questioning who to root for, and whether our own racial prejudices might be affecting our sympathies.  Having whacked the hornet’s nest, Mamet ends the play abruptly, leaving us to continue the discussion outside the theatre.  Afton has the last line, and delivers it like a cannon volley over the prow of a well-armed battleship.  It’s an extremely clever play, and also very funny despite the serious topic at hand.  If you haven’t already seen it, you really should.  It closes August 21st.

After the show, we went backstage to congratulate Afton, and she invited us to meet her co-stars.  We had a great time chatting; what a gracious, funny, lovely bunch!  They clearly have a wonderful time together offstage as well.  Congrats to all!