Before Class

I feel so much so inside everything maybe a little so sure and so pure and
Never waiting only saying inside me there is a word, not my heart not my mind
It’s something deeper stronger more real than a soul to the depths of marrow
The underbelly of all that sings
All the sounds of vibration and all rolled into the Om of the fans and electricity generator
And crickets and echo school hall
The Om of students thinking and teachers complaining
The Om of the Great Holy Ganga and the boys and cows bathing to purify their own injustice of the touch to the woman or the slap of the wife of the anger of the girl child or the fantasy of the girl next door
Who I can never even touch because she is married.
If I wash it all away with all the other garbage in the city, then I will be pure
Holy
One with Om
(written in Anupshahr, India, June 2010)

Green Theatre Collective Update

From the Green Theatre Collective newsletter:

Dear Friends,

I'm thrilled to tell you that Green Theatre Collective continues to grow. Keep chart of our progress via the GTC blog as we chronicle our activity over the next seven months. Our blog is now located on our website and can be found at: http://www.greentheatrecollective.org/blog.html.

Some quick GTC updates as well.

* On Wednesday January 26th(yesterday) GTC brought it's educational workshop The Green Scene to the kids in the after school program run by Kids Orbit at P.S. 8. The Green Scene seeks to inspire and empower younger generations to create theatre that has minimal impact on the environment. (Check out the attached picture of us embodying a forest of trees:)

* Our dates and locations for our summer production of As You Like It have been finalized. We're set to perform in Brooklyn on July 14th and 15th in gorgeous Prospect Park at the Music Pagoda. Other dates include July 9th and 10th when we'll be hosted by Theater in the Open (www.theaterintheopen.org) in my hometown of Newburyport, MA, and on July 23rd and 24th when we'll be hosted by Franklin Stage Company up in the Catskill Mountains (www.franklinstagecompany.org).

* GTC is introducing a new community outreach program entitled Artists for their Communities or AFTC. Our goal under the AFTC program will be to serve the Brooklyn community we live in, and the surrounding communities of New York City as well. From utilizing our artistic talents in the fields of theatre, education and music, to getting involved with community projects, environmental or otherwise which are in need of assistance. Have an idea or suggestion for GTC's first project under AFTC? Email me! We'd love to hear from you.

We hope you'll continue to follow GTC in the months ahead. It's certainly an exciting time! Best to all!
--
Hal Fickett

Anupshahr

It’s like the twilight of a sunset
A lavender and periwinkle blanket
That covers the world in a hum
And the smell of an open fire
And the taste of the spiced Chai
The peacocks meowing
And the hum of generators
Motorbikes and crickets
A distant wedding blasts
Hindi Bollywood love songs
And fireworks

Anupshahr, India, June 2010

Good Vibes Jam Session

I have been presented with the fortunate situation of having my parents apartment (which is where I live anyway) to myself in a few weeks. I have been dreaming for a long time of bringing all my musically talented friends together for a hootenanny- and I don't mean the kind where we have sheets of paper with lyrics to 60''s folk songs and chord charts. I mean someone starts a groove or a chord progression, and we feel it, and we improv, and we don't worry about playing the wrong thing because HEY it's never been played before...
We'll all squeeze into my parents living room and jam it out. Beat boxing and vocalists welcome! I have a bunch of instruments too- guitars, keyboard, ukulele, strumstick, recorders, egg shakers, a djembe and random percussive instruments...

The day: January the 28th (Friday), the time, 8pm.

with HARMONY and GOOD VIBES-
Mel

Dancing Water

DANCING WATER

a troupe of little vagrants of the world
leave your footprints in my words
the world puts off its mask of vastness to its lover
it becomes small as of the eternal
the sands in your way beg for your song and your movement, dancing water
will you carry the burden of their lameness?

(A poem on a cup in a restaurant in Xidi, China, 5 April)

Open Mic at the Tea Lounge 9 January, 2011

I will be playing some originals with my mom on January 9th at the Tea Lounge!
9-11pm
Union Street between 6th ave and 7th ave
Park Slope, Brooklyn


and THEN...

On the following Tuesday, January 11th, I will play another open mic at Bar 4, from 7pm until...whenever? Also in Park Slope!

yay open mics!

Changing the shape of my blog

Although I am no longer traveling around the world, my intentional journey to the Other Side will continue. I am now based in Brooklyn, teaching music and theatre, making music and theatre, and seeking cultural competency and connection within my own country and community. I'll start by sharing some poetry I've written on my journey- I've already shared a few things- and continue to update on gigs, shows, events, and ways to connect and get involved.

Green Theatre
I've been helping out my good friend Hal Fickett start up a cool company called The Green Theatre Collective- a theatre company devoted to sustainable and waste-free performance. I'll be acting as Educational Director. Check out their website by clicking on the link in the "links" section.

Party for Pardada Pardadi
A few weeks ago friends gathered for music, food, and good holiday cheer to support the Pardada Pardadi Educational Society- the girl's school in India where I volunteered for a month. If you'd like to make a donation to help support one girl through her schooling, please contact me.

Music
stay tuned for gigs, albums or whatever direction my music might take...I'm still exploring. For now, you might find me at an open mic or busking in the subway...