Glenn Shadix and Tim Burton at MoMA

Tim Burton hosted several hundred of his friends and collaborators at a special preview Monday Nov 16, 2009 at The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.  It was loving gathering of the folks who have worked with Tim over the course of his still blooming career.  This amazing installation included work dating back to his High School days in Burbank. I arrived at MoMA with my nephew, Sam Teer, who is a senior, majoring in Graphic Arts, at The Alabama High School of Fine Arts, long time friend and mentor, director and founder of The Tennessee Williams Festival In Provincetown, David Kaplan and Nine Moon Productions associate, Joel Olgesby.

BEETLE JUICE pals Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones at MoMA

The collection of Tim's work was truly astounding.  This MUST-SEE installation runs until mid April 2010. We all moved to an elaborate party at The Russian Tea Room after two hours of viewing Burton's art.

Glenn Shadix and Johnny Depp at The Russian Tea room

I am preparing a more detailed BIO TALE when time permits.  Just got back from New York and wanted to share the joyous time we all enjoyed.  Our Boy from Burbank has, indeed, been most prolific in the 22 years we have been friends.  I glowed with pride and simply had fun with dear friends from my time in Hollywood.

Heard great reports about my work in FINDING GAUGUIN from Cherry Vanilla who saw a recent screening in Hollywood.  Cherry is known as the Fairy Godmother of Pop Culture and is a loyal and trusted friend of so many in the crowd that gathered at MoMA.

Glenn Shadix and Cherry Vanilla

There will be much more in the BIO TALE I plan to upload before the end of the year.   Appeared in a documentary for TRUTH WINS OUT which we shot on the terrace at Hotel Metro.  So much more to tell but am in the midst of planning a big Thanksgiving at TUNE FARMS.  My dear friend Diane Tune and her apprentices as well as close friends and family are gathering on her huge farm an hour north of Birmingham. Happy Thanksgiving All!!!!!

Wayne Besen, author and activist

 

I was honored to open for Wayne Besen (Author of "ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHT--Unlocking the Scandals and Lies behind the Ex Gay Myth") last night at UAB's Alumni Auditorium as he spoke on James Dobson's bizarre efforts to change Gay people into Straight people with his organization "FOCUS ON FAMILY" (and their sister act, EXODUS).  I spoke first and briefly detailed my experience (at age 17) with "Aversion therapy" --a vain and painful attempt at turning ME into a heterosexual.  Working with Wayne was a great experience and I was honored to be asked to speak.  Wayne is articulate and informed and will be there tomorrow when we silently protest FOCUS ON FAMILY's invasion of Birmingham.  Learn more about Wayne at his website: www.waynebesen.com and find out about the protest Sat Nov. 7th by going to Joe Openshaw's blog, www.bessemeropinion.com   These people are so full of hate and so ignorant that it is tempting to ignore them, but so many people are fooled because they use religion and fool a lot of people. Please come join us tomorrow if you can.  Wayne's group www.truthwinsout.com is full of great information on what gay people face from a segment of the religious right and specific hate groups.

Training Again

 

Well, I finally hired a trainer. I know..big deal, who cares? I just had to make the commitment and chose my Blog to announce my fitness regimen !  There is an indoor pool and a full gym in the basement of my new digs and, after four orthopedic surgeries in as many years, I am back on track.  "In training" means no drinking or smoking (of course) and at least a twenty minute swim before the trainer arrives and then a 45 minute weight room work out.  This has got to be as much fun as I can make it or I will never stick to it. But...well that's about it. I PROMISE I will have a more entertaining Blog soon but had to proclaim my goal of getting fit.  Have the weight under control and a good, nutritional diet, now all I need is consistancy. There. THANK YOU for this no news Blog. Started yesterday and will swim daily and work out Mon,Wed.&Fri. Wish me luck....Head for NYC Nov 16 and have a gym at the Hotel Metro Penthouse.  If I do the work out while I'm there I am going to treat myself to small piece of art.  Check out Tim Burton's re-vamped web site: www.timburton.com   STAIN BOY is your host and it's fantastic!
 
Now, wasn't this a fun, illuminating and entertaining Blog entry!~!!!???  Your indulgence appreciated!--GS

 

The MAIN thing  is I quit smoking almost three weeks ago and these things always gave me nicotine fits--SO, I am blogging out my fear with this announcement that I will go to Music City and see a Zillion smokers and return without having had one damn cigarette. That is a promise I am making out loud on this day's Blog.  Gonna go have fun with movie fans, tell my tales, sign autographs and movie merchadise and when I get back to Birmingham next week I will walk into my smoke-free home not have had ONE of those damn death sticks!  Thanks.  I feel better now.  If you are in the area and want to say hello here's the link with the info: http://comiccitytn.com/.

My Youngest Brother Frank and Brooklyn

This is my youngest brother Frank coming to pick up Brooklyn at my sister's.  We did not want to let him have her back!  I plan to baby sit as often as I possibly can. Baby's are all magic and this little one is a treasure!

Gertrude Scott

The photo above is of my beloved Trudie ( Brooklyn's great grandmother)  Trudie was quite the Flapper when this was taken around 1920.  She knew Zelda Sayre who married F. Scott Fitzgerald and it was Trudie who introduced me to the work of Gertrude Stein and the book THE CHARMED CIRCLE about Stein and Toklas and their salon a 27 Rue de Fluers in Paris.  Read this book in Jr. High and it eventually changed my life when Tim Burton saw me playing Gertrude Stein on stage and cast me in BEETLEJUICE.  I was so glad Trudie lived long enough to see my film debut.  Trudie also knew and told me many tales of another famous Alabamian of her generation, Tallulah Bankhead.  I owe more than I can ever say to my grandmother, Trudie.

Miss Brooklyn Marie Scott

 

Taking every chance I get to spend with my 6 month old niece Brooklyn Marie Scott.  Pure joy here...

Having just returned from The Tennessee Williams' Festival in Provincetown, Ma. and ten plays in 4 days, I thought I was sated with live theater for at least a week or two but, no.  Ran into to Artist, Jean Cecil--She and her husband Bill Foster (CEO of The Birmingham Zoo) are relatively new to Birmingham and Jean had an installation of her paintings last week and during our conversation invited me to see "RENT" with her husband and his delightful mother visiting Birmingham from St. Augustine.

Last night was ,indeed, memorable.  It reminded me of the truly exceptional Theatrical community Birmingham has and has had since it's earliest days. This exceptional theatrical community gave me a place to work and I mean ADVENTUROUS work way back it the early 70's---long before 90% of the performer's I saw last night at RED MOUNTAIN THEATER COMPANY's production of "RENT" were born!

My Nikon Coolpix died just as Keith Cromwell ( Executive producer RMTC) had gathered all the cast together.  So all I have is the lame shot during the standing ovation these performers received.  Sorry Guys.  Battery died.  However there is really no one to single out, only because EVERYONE was outstanding.

Odd angle of RENT's standing ovation curtain call.

 

So I will simply list this extraordinary cast: Dawoyne Alexander, Benjamin Alicea, Lauren Bowing, Nicci Claspell, Doront'e Evans,Russ Hobbie, Dylan Hunter, Megan Elizabeth Lewis, Sethanie Mosley, Casey O'Farrell, Michael Seward, Kas Tillae, Cecil E. Washington Jr.. Michael Wright,  and  Pamela Williams.

The musical direction was exceptional thanks to the efforts of Kevin Francis Finn and the musicians were Kevin, Chase Cooper, Carlos Pino, Talor Propp and Maury Levine.

God Bless you Ron Kellum (director AND MORE) for your hard work and dedication in creating, so quickly, a fine reputation for RMTC.  Returning to Birmingham after 32 years in Los Angeles and NYC and finding such a thriving creative community here has reinforced my re-location to Alabama.  Just wrapped a feature on Maui called FINDING GAUGUIN and we are in pre-production for a feature  (working title) "MARK" by writer/ producer Susan Oliver.  I took a 3 year sabbatical and it is so good to be back doing what I love and doing it from a new home base in Birmingham!

Birmingham's somewhat Controversial 1973 production of THE BOYS IN THE BAND.  The first totally gay themed play ever presented in Birmingham.  I played Emory ( on the left in yellow with red bracelets!  I was 19 at the time. Greg Robinson and the late Don Higdon completed the threesome out front lyp- syncing to Bette Midler's "Leader of The Pack" from her first album.  Unfortunately the names of the other performers are lost to my poor documentation and my 2008 House Fire...  We did sell-out and held over at BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL THEATER and then we all moved to Atlanta!  I am so proud (and lucky) to have made my theatrical debut in Birmingham, Alabama.

PS I aint dead yet and looking for the right part in a play as well as continuing my career in film. And YES, Keith, I can sing.  Have a platinum CD for my songs in THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Bless everyone from RMTC for a magical evening and I look forward to more!  You have a company of Stars!

Artist Jean Cecil at her installation at David and Linda Wheeler Gallery at The Summit.

 

Artist statement:"Great things are done when men and mountains meet; this is not done by jostling in the street"---William Blake
 
Jean Cecil has met mountains and, as Blake imply's, accepted their challenges. A wife, a mother, a professional architect and financial consultant, Jean is now painting and studying--do artist ever stop studying? Her father, a Kentuckian, her mother from Alabama, Jean enjoys, in an obvious and deep sense, the nature around her which flows out of her work as an artist.  She had a three month sabbatical in 2006 during which she spent time alone in Costa Rica.  I relate. That was when I began a sabbatical and left Los Angeles for my home in Alabama. Her work is vibrant and varied. Her new studies of the human form show amazing potential.

Today her installation benefited 15% to The Alabama Ballet.  Call David's Gallery for more information on future exhibitions and to contact Jean. 205-967-0480


After Jean Cecil's show, I went by Apple at The Summit and got a much needed tutorial on my iPhone apps and then raced over to my sister's Susan Gagne to help baby sit my youngest brother's new baby, Brooklyn Marie Scott.  It was a glorious time and home before dark to work on my new script and toss off this blog.  I do believe I am as happy as I have ever been! Looking forward to seeing a local production of " RENT" this Saturday night.  Leave for an appearance in Nashville on the 16th (see the Appearances page)

Love the changes in season after three decades in California!  Love to All ----GS

Curator, David Kaplan hops his bike to hit rehearsals and a gay studies class at a local U

 

Glorious weekend on Cape Cod and Provincetown is hopping.  Last night, Betty Buckley and the entire cast of GHOSTS FROM A SUMMER HOTEL wowed a sold-out perfomance of this Williams piece based on the F.Scott Fitgerald short story.  The Festival has SOLD OUT ALL TEN SHOWS.

My friends from Boston that I met on Maui arrived this afternoon and we had a tour of the village, lunch by the shore and tons of shopping.

 

Stephen & Meredith Schulte

 

Stephen and Meredith brought along their delightful friend, Jessica Wolkiewicz. We are meeting at 7pm for the New Zealand production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Fisherman's Wharf.  My favorite Williams play will be followed by a cocktail party for Betty Buckley who was such a marvelous Zelda Fitzgerald last night...

 

Jessica Wolkiewicz joined Stephen & Meredith.  We will all be seeing STREETCAR tonight.  Jessica was a wonderful surprise.

 

 We are a foursome tonight, The Schulte's, Jessica and Me.  Should be memorable.

 

Jessica, Meredith & Stephen

Glenn Shadix & David Kaplan

 

Wonderful flight to Boston yesterday and a 90 minute ferry ride took me to the heart of Provincetown. Checked into The Waterford Inn and spent my first day exploring the village and greeting friends from all over.  Attended the opening night party for the T.W. Festival and met the charming Betty Buckley, who I will see tonight in William's play (based on an F.Scott Fitzgerald short story), "CLOTHES FOR A SUMMER HOTEL" about Scott and Zelda--of course..  The picture above is David Kaplan, curator of The Festival.  We are on the balcony of the cottage David keeps in Provincetown--it was, for many years, owned by Eugene O'neill.   Today's plays start at 1pm so I am dashing off this blog and getting ready to being an audience until after 10pm with quick breaks!

 

Glenn Shadix at the Waterford Inn in Provincetown

 

On Friday September 10th, my fiend Jason Maloy and I began our road trip to Arkansas to visit Little Rock (where I enjoyed a visit to President Clinton's Library). We then traveled on to Fayetteville Arkansas for the second annual Gala Benefit & Silent Auction benefiting The Building--A Dream Capital Campaign Fund for TEMPLE SHALOM of Northwest Arkansas held at Fayetteville's UNITED METODODIST CHURCH.  The Jewish Community has been using the local Unitarian Church as their home and their dream of building a permanent home is becoming a reality due to Fadil Bayyari's tremendous act of generosity.  Bayyari Construction services are being donated at cost to the project and Mr. Bayyari, himself, is donating his services as general contractor. NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY HAVE CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTS DESIGNED A JEWISH TEMPLE THAT IS BEING BUILT BY A MUSLIM CONTRACTOR.


This building partnership has also had the added benefit of creating a vision of understanding and respect for all viewpoints.  Temple Shalom has established a FAITH TO FAITH Initiative that will provide people of all religions, ethnicities and cultures a safe forum in which to share and learn from each other.

To inquire about making a tax-deductible donation to the BUILDING OF A DREAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUND please contact: Barry Brown, Capital Campaign Chairman at (479) 871-1457 (cell) or at his home: (479)750-4004 or email at bbrown@uark.edu

Barry gave me a personal tour of the Temple, now under construction and I was treated as an honored guest during my time in Arkansas.  A highlight was a beautiful poem read by Mohja Kahf at the Gala benefit Sunday evening.  What a wonderful example for all communities of Faith. It was certainly worth the 16 hours I spent in my car on the way up and then back to Birmingham!

 

Off with my dear friend, Jason Maloy, to Little Rock to join in the opening of a new Synagogue and a trip to The Clinton Library.  Then after The BSC Starlight Supper on the 20th, it's P-Town Ma. for The Tennessee Williams festival and a gathering of old friends and ten T.W. plays, then appearances in Nashville, Cleveland and by Nov 15 I will be in Manhattan to honor Tim Burton at his M.O.M.A. Retrospective.  Busy fall and then FRANCE,  and, when weather warms, on to Austria and Berlin.  I hope WORK does not disrupt my plans...The best laid plans of mice and men...well, you know what I mean.  Will be in Birmingham between some of these trips!  Love to all-GS Got my iPhone with me...