The latest VANITY FAIR profile of Ms. Palin: IT'S ALIVE.....
 
Could not resist offering this profile of THAT PALIN WOMAN:  Hit this link for a revealing look at THE ALASKAN HUNTRESS.
 
I try to stay way from political pieces but this is just too ON THE MONEY.
 
Enjoy!
Glenn

 

This blog is taken from an email to David Kaplan, curator of The T. Williams Festival In Province Town: 

We just spoke and, while fresh, I thought I'd let you know my connection to Dana.  We never met but I had a wonderful relationship with Dana's mother, Mary Nell Santacroce and her step-father Dante Santacroce.  (Back in 1974, I was actually a cute, curly haired 180 pound 21 year old living in Atlanta)

I had just come off my first Equity tour of MAN OF LA MANCHA and Dante directed me in a memorable production of THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES.  Mary Nell coached me in this role and Dante was a wonderful director and became a friend as did Mary Nell.  I was hungry for more coaching and felt I needed to get a more solid foundation by getting into a good liberal arts school. All my instincts told me I was not ready for a professional career. I was 21 and incredibly insecure.  Response to my work in both plays I did in Atlanta had been extremely positive but I was well aware of the well trained competition I would be facing and was in search for solid experience--this came in the form of a Drama scholarship at Birmingham Southern and I was enrolled and in rehearsals for Claudius in HAMLET by the 1974 fall term.                                                                                  

Mary Nell arranged a lunch at Harry Ellerbe's.  It was just Harry and me and his older sister who was quietly charming but distant.  She served us in the beautiful breakfast room and then disappeared.

I had no idea Harry had been the original "gentlemen caller" in The Glass Menagerie and he never brought it up--I only found that out a few years ago.

We enjoyed our lunch and he had many simple, solid pieces of advice for a young actor.  He drove home the point that actor's today do not treasure the "words".  This remained with me.

Just, if not awkward, pass on my deep affection to Dana for Mary Nell and Dante.  I feel they must have both passed away at this point.

Mary Nell was quite wonderful as "the land lady" in John Houston's WISE BLOOD and did appear in several films.  She would have worked non-stop in Los Angeles but chose to remain in Atlanta.

Dearest David, sorry to have allowed this little note to grow into a 'bio tale' but it just flowed...........   I know how busy you are but once I begin a tale it sometimes happens!  Hope the T. Williams Festival is coming together.  My Sciatica should be better soon but, regretfully, I will miss the 5th Season.  Very disappointed but health has to take the front seat this year. 

Best to you and Jerry and Spot,
Glenn

 

Glenn Shares some time with Joan Baez after the show.

 

Joan playing to a packed house in Baton Rouge.

 

 

     John Doyle----------Guitar, Vocals
     Dirk Powell----------Fiddle,Banjo
     Todd Phillips--------Bass
     Blair Woods---------Tour Mgr.
     Jim Stewart----------Merchandizing
     Emma Vasseur-----assistant to  Ms. Baez

 

 

The bittersweet lone mic as Joan leaves the stage.

The Museum of Modern Art invited me to speak at the museum's final screening of BEETLEJUICE this month.  It was quite an honor and so much fun! They flew me to New York and booked me into The Warwick, just across the street from MoMA.  Jenny arranged a private tour of Tim's career retrospective so my friends could get a good viewing before the throngs of this sell-out installation swamped the museum.  I was so busy that I took very few pictures, but have gathered a few from friends.

 

The kids at the screening of Michael Lehmann's HEATHERS

 

 

At 7pm I spoke to the BEETLEJUICE crowd and related my stories of the making of the film. Among my guests were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gordon, K .Blaine Johnson, recent Academy Award nominee, Rebecca Cammisa (for her feature length documentary, WHICH WAY HOME), author and actress, Mari Gorman, TRUTH WINS OUT founder, Wayne Besen, Shade Rupe, Ian Fedorchik, Joseph Adams and pictured below my friends from Birmingham, James and Mollie Pittman.

 

James Gunter (left)  Mollie Pittman (right)

 

My talk before the film was a way of honoring Tim and all the people in front and behind the camera that I came to know and love. I told the story of how I (with essentially no film credits) was cast by Tim and the incredibly loving atmosphere on the set--one the likes of I have yet to experience again.  I did stay and watch this screening and for the Q&A I pulled out of my bag the oriental robe I wore in the film and wore it back on stage.  Sounds silly but it was just so much fun for the crowd (and for me!)  The Q&A lasted until MoMA dimmed the lights and I met with fans outside.  It was such a sweet way to end this magnificent retrospective of Tim's wild creativity.  The installation closed yesterday, April 26 and will be going on to Toronto and Los Angeles and the goodness knows where!  Also got a chance to see Valerie Harper as Tallulah Bankhead and a magnificent production of A Little Night Music with my beloved Angela Landesbury.  It was a magical time in Manhattan.

 

James Gunter and Glenn inside Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture

 

Monday morning I spoke to the newly formed Gay/Straight/Alliance at Alabama's largest Baptist University.  It was quite a wonderful experience.  Stephen Light arranged it and I was delighted at the response and more than a little surprised that this University was open to this organization.  I will be speaking at various universities to G/S/A in the coming months.

 

Dinner for D. K.

 

David Kaplan (www.davidkaplandirector.com) came to visit me after speaking at The Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans.  I gave a small dinner party for David, his partner Jerry Stacy, Stephen Light, Joe Openshaw, Roy Brown and (not shown here) Celeste Burnham and hubby Jim.  We had a fine time.  I made chili, Joe brought cornbread and Celeste treated us to her famous cole slaw.  The food was good and the conversation even better.

 

Tuesday Breakfast

 

David cooked up breakfast before leaving for NYC.  It was a short but very meaningful time together.  Now I am getting ready to head to NYC myself and my speaking engagement at MoMA at 7:pm April 9th at the museum.  I will introduce the final screening of Beetlejuice and do a Q&A after.  Booked two Broadway shows for the 10th and will be back in Alabama rehearsing for my audition for THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE.  I want to do a MUSICAL!!!!

 

Spot

 

Pardon me for being a proud and deleriously happy Uncle.  My large family gathered to celebrate my youngest brother (Frank) and his wife Tammy's baby girl's first Birthday.  Miss Brooklyn Marie was in a great mood and the entire family enjoyed some quality time.  Following are a few pic from this special day.

 

 

 

Our little princess with cousin Abby

 

And now just a few of my nieces and nephews on hand.

 

Sam & Dan

 

Kelsey & Laura

 

Hagan & Connor

 

Brooklyn

 

 

 

Hi all, sorry to have been so quiet.  Had to have a "gouty tophus" removed from my elbow and it has limited my typing skills temporarily and that will be all over soon.  Much exciting news in the works but nothing I can report today.  I hope we all have a happy, healthy and productive New Year!.  Here comes 2010!!

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!!!!!

 

A group of gay men and women gathered outside the gates of The Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham to protest FOCUS ON FAMILY coming to town to help "CHANGE" gay people into Straight people.  All the protestors stayed in our designated spots and were well behaved.  The same can not be said for bus loads of people from other fundamentalists churches who, as they passed us announce through a P. A. system "God Hates Queers! You made the mistake, not God".  This language as they entered The Gates of The Metropolitan Church of God off Acton Road near Hoover.  We were ashamed for them.  Local ABC and CBS affiliates interviewed protestors and Wayne Besen, Head of TRUTH WINS OUT. After the protest Wayne and I had a late lunch at Surrin's and I agreed to participate in their documentary through an interview that will be taped while I'm in New York next week.  It was great to see so many Gay Alabamians come out early on a Saturday to peacefully and silently protest the bogus "Gay to Straight" movement headed by Focus On Family and Exodus.  The hate and profanity came from the "Christians" who drove pass. PFLA (Parents of Gays and lesbians ) were well represented and a 90 year old grandmother came in a wheelchair to show her support for the Gay and Lesbian population in Birmingham and Alabama.  Many Gay Christians were present.  An image that will always stay with me is that of a young teenager being driven by what seemed to be his parents, into The Metropolitan Church of God.  He slowly raised his hand and, hidden from those in the front seat of the car, waved at us as he was driven into the all day seminar.  His sad face haunts me.  I have been there.  My prayers are with him.

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.