Depression is a Quiet Bastard I while ago I decided to take the bag off my battle with depression. It was a secret I no longer wanted to keep. I've battled depression, anxiety, OCD, and BiPolar 2 my whole life. I didn't tell anyone mostly out of shame. Mental illness didn't seem like a "real" disease. In the past I hinted at suffering from it but was usually met with "heart in the right place but not at all helpful" sayings like [...]
My Trip to Florida Rep The other week I had the privilege of visiting Florida Rep Theatre in Fort Myers, FL. The theatre was very gracious to fly me out for the weekend. Or very stupid to fly me out there. I saw their production of Around the World in 80 Days, did a couple of talkbacks with the audience, did a Q&A/talkback with the Florida Rep board, and had lunch with Artistic Director Robert Cacioppo and his wife Carrie Lund Cacioppo, [...]
Circle Theatre Company's Successful Run Congratulations to the Circle Theatre Company for their successful run of Around the World in 80 Days. How successful was it? Box-office records, baby. That's awesome. And I think it was student directed. But I'm not sure. CTC is located in Orlando and they did not one but two of my shows this year. Over the holidays they produced The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge. When I wrote both shows I wanted to make them so [...]
I'm Fort Myers Bound I'm heading to Fort Myers later this week to see Florida Rep's production of Around the World in 80 Days. Don't just take my word for it. It's also on Broadwayworld. "Florida Repertory Theatre has announced that Mark Brown, the critically acclaimed author of Around the World in 80 Days, will visit Fort Myers this weekend to see Florida Rep's production of his play." See? I'll also be doing some audience talkbacks. Again I defer to [...]
Florida Rep Set to go Around the World in 80 Days Florida Rep opens Around the World in 80 Days tonight. Woot. The production is directed by my good friend, Mark Shanahan. Mark recently directed the production of Around the World in 80 Days at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (That production had an extraordinary event that I don't think can ever be duplicated). Last spring Mark directed the world premiere of my play Tom Jones. He's also been in a couple [...]
Seeking German Woman I'm in search for a German woman. Not just any German woman. This German woman. The brunette in the middle. Not the guy on the left. He's neither German nor a woman. A Bremen German Woman Back in 1996 I was cast in an industrial film for Evans and Sutherland. They're a computer firm and back then they sold killer simulators to the military. They don't sell them anymore and now the Evans and Sutherland website looks [...]
Yogurtland is celebrating National Frozen Yogurt Day today. Stop by your local Yogurtland and snag some free frozen yogurt!
Village Theatre Gets Awesome Reviews Congratulations to the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA on the awesome-sauce reviews for its production of Around the World in 80 Days. "An exciting and enormously entertaining adventure!" ~ Daily Record 'Around the World in 80 Days"... a memorable romp worth taking." ~ Issaquah Press Thanks Kudos to the cast -Jared Michael Brown, Chris Ensweiler, Eric Polani Jensen, Jason Collins and Aneesh Sheth. And super kudos to director David Ira Goldstein for putting together a fantastic production. The Info Here's [...]
Village Theatre Opens Around the World in 80 Days Hey Seattle, pack your bags and head over to the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA. The theatre is producing my play Around the World in 80 Days. The show opens tonight at the Francis Gaudette Theatre and runs through March 1. The show then moves to the Everett Performing Arts Center in Everett, WA. The Cast Here is the foolhardy group of actors taking on the play. Jared Michael Brown as Phileas Fogg. Chris [...]
Circle Theatre Company Produces Two of My Shows The Circle Theatre Company at the Circle Christian School in Winter Park, FL has become my new favorite theatre company. Not only did they produce The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge last month, but next month they're producing Around the World in 80 Days. Two of my shows. Back-to-back. That's only happened once before. Years ago Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA produced the same two shows back-to-back. The eye gouging scene from [...]