Ken Shimamoto's review via his Stash Dauber blog

Monday, November 12, 2007

she: bike/spoke/love
caught the last performance of tammy gomez's play "she: bike/spoke/love" at the sanders theatre in the fort worth community arts center last night. the sanders is a cool, intimate space and the ideal location for the piece, which combined video, live and dj-spun music, spoken word and...bicycling. the story deals with a young bicyclista's struggle to achieve autonomy and interdependence with others against a backdrop of current events here in the fort, with political, magical and spiritual elements. some of the show's finest moments come when the cast and dj carlos juarez (aka DJ SOL*LOS) fill the space with vibrant movement and explosions of sound, but "she: bike/spoke/love" is most powerful when it explores the inner worlds of esa (dominique fay) and her mama (dina lee chavez), both of whom gave particularly strong performances -- a nice surprise in the case of fay, who's a first-time actor here. also fine were maria solano as esa's friend ella, ramsey sprague as esa's fantasy "perfect guy" el sabe, and cesar hernandez as homeless dude/sage basco. the company is looking for other opportunities to perform the piece in schools, theaters, parks, or wherever; interested parties should email sound_culture@hotmail.com.

ADDENDUM: i like the way ramsey's guitar is emblazoned "this machine kills fascists," just like woody guthrie's. and dylan's.
posted by The Stash Dauber at 7:45 AM

[find this review online at: http://stashdauber.blogspot.com/2007/11/she-bikespokelove.html ]

special moments

1. Seeing both Trae and Jacob on separate laptops in the dressing room, posting last-minute bulletins and sending email reminders in order to "try to get more people out to the show."

2. Seeing Scott Ditchfield performing an emergency bike repair (on Esa's Cruiser) in the Scott Theater lobby during the evening show, as other cast members huddled hopefully around him as if watching a specialist perform intricate surgery.

3. Singing a (cheesy) Gina Vanelli song alongside Natalia during intermission as we watched a Gina Vanelli-lookalike strolling in the theater lobby.

4. Dina rubbing her belly intermittently, and referring to it as "cuddling" her baby.

5. Seeing Trae's sweet look of concern as Ramsey was having a moment with his lunch at Pei Wei. Fortunately, Ramsey perked up soon after that, and got to finish his meal.

6. When cast members started sneaking into Basco's Tecate stash in the ice chest during intermission.

7. Riding back from Pei Wei in my car, listening to my favorite song on the radio ("All My Relations" by Ulali) in utter silence with Dina, Angelique, and Breanna.

8. Being at the med. school library minutes afterward (to check email and do some printing) and seeing that Breanna was adding "All My Relations" to her myspace profile.

9. The wristband dome lights flying all over the stage during "I See by the Seashore".

10. Placing a carnation in Dina's mouth during the limpia and hoping she wouldn't laugh or spit it out.

11. Jennet's cool Jackie-O look--complete with sunglasses--that almost sent me falling into the curtains as I peeked at her from backstage.

12. Seeing Basco and Carlos synch up 100% perfect for the radio-tuning moments.

13. Missing the bench not breaking.

14. Maria as "Ella" blurting out "That was FUCKIN' awesome!!" after Scott did his bmx routine.

15. The standing ovation.

We've been accepting RESERVATIONS for both shows...

...and over 25 people have reservations for the evening show @ 7:30pm.

If anyone emails (sound_culture@hotmail.com) or calls in their reservation
by 12 midnight tonight, we can handle that. As of tomorrow, folks will
have to take their chances on getting a seat at 7:30pm.

We're encouraging folks to arrive early.

7pm @ Arts Fifth Avenue - be ready to start @ 7pm!

Bring bikes, of course.
Wear or bring the footwear you will be wearing during the performances.
Come ready to give 100%.

mil gracias!

T

hate stop, can live with slow. - for GIRLS

Upon my request and with some discussion about how to easily accomplish this, Trae is producing some "hate stop" costume pieces which will be worn by the GIRLS during the "hate stop, can live with slow" sequence.

Just wanted to give y'all a heads-up on this addition to our previously-established costume regimen.

If these pieces are ready by Friday, I'll make sure the GIRLS get to see and use them during their rehearsal that evening.

Thanks!

stay in touch wi' yo' director!

sound_culture@hotmail.com

tammygomexican@yahoo.com

myspace.com/sunlitdoorway

817.924.9188



THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT STAYING IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH YOUR SHOW'S DIRECTOR DURING THE WEEK BEFORE YOUR SHOW, PARTICULARLY WHEN SHE HAS MADE HER NUMBER & COORDINATES (see above list) AVAILABLE TO YOU SINCE THE GET-GO (i.e., since the beginning of time--practically).

I ALSO LIKE HAND-DELIVERED CARDS, PAINTINGS (thank you, Dom!), BAKED GOODS, SOUPS, AND MESSAGES which you can also choose to leave on my front porch or duct-taped to my car (no, really!)...

big hugs to all my cast/crew.

2 shows on sunday, november 11th!

Two Shows
Sunday, November 11th.
2pm - matinée performance
7:30pm - evening performance


Sanders Theatre at
The Fort Worth Community Art Center
1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth
(The southeast corner of Lancaster & Montgomery)

Please email sound_culture@hotmail.com for more information

I have posters! Full-color!

Who can commit to posting these at the local bike shops?

Let me know asap, please.

I already sent you guys (cast) the jpg for this image, so you can print out additional copies if you have the resources to do so.

Thanks.

REHEARSAL MONDAY, November 5th - 6:30pm

Fire Station Community Center (Lipscomb at Allen Streets).

Please bring your bicycles.

Can someone (Dominique, perhaps?) stop by my house to pick up the Cruiser bicycle?

Just returned from Austin; all my colleagues and friends who got to hear about the play are very eager for it to travel to Austin. Very encouraging.

Call me or post a comment below if you have questions, etc.

MISSING IN ACTION:

I am missing at least two things from our show.

1) my U-LOCK - black bicycle lock.
2) the two bike rims (spray-painted blue).
3) oh, also the little pink kid's bike---who has seen this?

I'm just trying to get a grip on our props/set pieces in preparation for the November 11th shows.

Anyone wanna help me recruit a new stage manager (Patricia is back in Mexico) ??

For those who wish they could see She: Bike/Spoke/Love in Fort Worth again!

The bike fairy has made it happen!
Two more shows - let's call 'em ENCORE PERFORMANCES - are happening on Sunday, November 11th, 2007. 2pm and 7:30pm.

Let everyone know, particularly those folks who MISSED (tear, sniff) the premiere and were turned away at the door. (One of the hardest things in the world is having to say, "sorry, but you cannot come in" to nice people who made the effort to get in to see your show.)

I am collecting the names/contact info of all who missed out the first time. If you want to share any names/contact info of people YOU know who couldn't find parking; got lost amidst the street closures and jazz fest chaos; or just got to the theatre too late to nab a seat, please email or phone me that info please. Sooner than later. I want to give those folks an early heads-up for the November 11th shows.

Okay, cast members: Pull out those SCRIPTS and start brushing up on your lines, por favor! (That includes me--for Curandera, of course.)

See ya on Friday!!

love,
Tammy

"Extreme production fascinates with variety"

'Extreme' production fascinates with variety
By MARK LOWRY (mlowry@star-telegram.com)
Star-Telegram staff writer

FORT WORTH -- Tammy Gomez's She: Bike/Spoke/Love, presented one time in a sold-out Saturday performance by Sound Culture, is difficult to categorize. Let's just call it "extreme theater."

It's extreme in that it involves bicycles, of various sizes and shapes, with the actors riding them around a small stage, close to the audience.

But it's also extreme in how it fascinates with a variety of performance styles.

It's modeled after hip-hop theater, using spoken word (the "If I Hit It" passage was the best verbal moment), showboating (there's a bicycle stunt dude) and a turntablist (DJ SOL*LOS). There's also multimedia, live music and agitprop (the line about how we're "choking on auto exhaust and government deceit" sums it up best).

But at its heart, there's a moving story about a young girl named Esa (Dominique Fay, in a beautifully natural performance) working on her relationships with her boyfriend Ken Sabe (Richard Rangel) and her mother (Dina Lee Chavez). Esa imagines her perfect novio in the form of El Sabe (Ramsey Sprague). In the end, they learn to accept one another for who everyone is.

And what about the bikes? They serve as metaphors for sex, growing up, finding balance and participating in life's race.

The piece could use tightening, but it's successful overall. One thing's for sure, you'll probably never see anything else like it.

For more information about She: Bike/Spoke/Love, visit www.bikespokelove.com.

Air up bike tires, bring lights TONIGHT!

great gracias.

more news you can use - AND CALL TIMES!!

DRESS REHEARSAL: Tonight @ SIX P.M. --- DO NOT BE LATE!!!!
There will be tons of people down there for the Jazz Festival.

Take EXTRA time to get to the SANDERS THEATRE. When you arrive,
please sign in with PATRICIA GREENE, who is STAGE-MANAGING.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE, please don't plan on leaving 'til 10pm.
Bring food, drink, costumes, bikes, props/extensions that are to be used.

(Special exceptions are being made for bmx-ers...and Layne, who is part of the
pre-show.)

THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE THEATRE is via CAMP BOWIE OR MONTGOMERY.
From CAMP BOWIE AND MONTGOMERY, you can TURN EAST (TOWARDS DOWNTOWN). ON LANCASTER TO GET TO ENTRANCE OF THE FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER.

My sister and niece (Miranda and Breanna) will be stationed in the circular driveway to GREET YOU, HELP YOU UNLOAD YOUR VEHICLE, and WILL WAIT WITH YOUR GEAR/BIKES while you DRIVE OFF TO PARK YOUR CAR.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> GET THERE EARLY! TO LOAD-IN, TO FIND PARKING, TO WALK TO THE THEATRE.

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> Please consider PARKING IN THE LOTS AT MY WORKPLACE (UNTHSC--University of North Texas Health Science Center).
This campus is located just NORTH of the Amon Carter Museum. Free & plentiful
parking. Easy walk to the Sanders Theatre.

love,
Tammy

speaking loudly, but carrying no stick....

CALL TIMES on SHOW DAY!

(which means the precise time you are REQUIRED to be ON-SITE at the Sanders Theatre)

Saturday, September 22nd. 11:30am for our last complete run-through.

Saturday, September 22nd . 6pm to prep, dress, rehearse for show

DRESS REHEARSAL: Tonight @ SIX P.M. --- DO NOT BE LATE!!!!

There will be tons of people down there for the Jazz Festival.

Take EXTRA time to get to the SANDERS THEATRE. When you arrive,
please sign in with PATRICIA GREENE, who is STAGE-MANAGING.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE, please don't plan on leaving 'til 10pm.
Bring food, drink, costumes, bikes, props/extensions that are
to be used.

(Special exceptions are being made for bmx-ers...and Layne, who is part of the
pre-show.)

THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE THEATRE is via CAMP BOWIE OR MONTGOMERY.
From CAMP BOWIE AND MONTGOMERY, you can TURN EAST (TOWARDS DOWNTOWN)
ON LANCASTER TO GET TO ENTRANCE OF THE FORT WORTH COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER.

My sister and niece (Miranda and Breanna) will be stationed in the
circular driveway to GREET YOU, HELP YOU UNLOAD YOUR VEHICLE, and
WILL WAIT WITH YOUR GEAR/BIKES while you DRIVE OFF TO PARK YOUR CAR.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> GET THERE EARLY! TO LOAD-IN, TO FIND
PARKING, TO WALK TO THE THEATRE.

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED=====> Please consider PARKING IN THE LOTS
AT MY WORKPLACE (UNTHSC--University of North Texas Health Science Center).
This campus is located just NORTH of the Amon Carter Museum. Free & plentiful
parking. Easy walk to the Sanders Theatre.

love,
Tammy

speaking loudly, but carrying no stick....

We've all worked our asses off for this - look back & appreciate how far you've come in this process.....

Carlos: audio/sound cue issues needed to be resolved...

script page number precedes the description:

p. 3 -- track on cassette - got to identify which
one to record onto cd or put into your system

p. 15 -- use track #7 from the Transglobal Underground
cd (00:00-00:10)

p. 24 -- once you watch the video sequence, i'd like you
to decide on some "dream music" which would play after
Esa and El Sabe finish talking. (by dream music, i don't
necessarily mean "dreamy" music--but obviously,
instrumental and ambient would probably work)

p. 25 -- have to nail exactly when Cesar/Basco starts
speaking, cuz the clip you have is short from the Bobby
"Blue" Bland song ("Blind Man")

p. 25 -- i guess you'll be coming over to borrow the
Los Tigres del Norte song

p. 26 -- same thing for the Chingo Bling song
("Can't Deport Us All")

p. 26 -- need to get the beginning of the classic
ZZ Topp song "La Grange"

p. 37 -- same song from cassette is needed for the
video cue -- Vanishing Point 2

p. 37 -- need to nail down exactly the precise sequence
of the TRAFFIC SOUNDS, the CAR HONKS, the BRAKES
SQUEALING, ESA YELLING, YOU SHOUTING.

p.40 -- need music/audio/sound --- maybe ocean
waves?

p. 48 -- J-Lo song needs a much lower volume, cuz
i couldn't hear the GIRLS speak the other night.

p. 57 -- need to solidify the mix/speed of the DJ Nu-Mark
blues song--when to slow it down, how long to play it,
etc.

p. 66 -- starting gun sound/audio is Track 4,
Transglobal Underground, 00:00-00:09.

p. 67-68 -- possible sound cue BEFORE the Crustacean
music. "Wipe out on the waves of Armageddon" by
Mike Ladd. will play for you...


THANKS!!!

Gettin' play all over the internet...

Spent a little time in the wee hours of today looking online for any buzz about our premiere on Saturday.

I actually found quite a bit of stuff, including nice mentions and promo blurbs on GOT POETRY, OM PLACE, TOPIX, CARAVAN OF DREAMSand the STASH DAUBER websites.

Bernie at PANTHER CITY BICYCLES suggests that SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE may possibly be the coolest bicycle event ever in Fort Worth.

And lastly, but not leastly, the good folks (Tom, Chris, Neil) over at KTCU's THE GOOD SHOW posted our flyer and an mp3 of me & Natalia talking with Tom on their blog. Give it a listen if you have some time!

Rehearsal--Thursday, Sept. 20th - 7-10pm, RMT gallery

Same place as last night. Please arrive ON-TIME.

SEVEN, not SEVEN-THIRTY.
Load in your bicicletas, props, etc., and begin stretching, working on your lines.

We WILL have digital projections (video sequences), so that will be good.

AFTER rehearsal, Carlos & Dominique will come to my place to work on some audio production.
Cesar also will be finishing up some video editing.

BRING YOUR FLASHLIGHTS, BIKE LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!

Nice letter, nice news, from our very nice website designer, Layne C

Hi Tammy,

Hope you are feeling upbeat and positive about the big night. I can feel the momentum building. The good news is that I know the webmaster for FW Bicycle club and he sent out the link to the web site to all members. So between the article in the paper and and the distribution to the bicycle club there were close to 5,000 hits on the site between Sunday and Monday...
I also know the webmaster for the LMRA bicycle club and he posted the link on their site and in their chat room....

Attached please find the 11x17 poster.

Let me know if you need anything else...Luv, Layne

Good things are coming our way.....

....i love to be mysterious sometimes......



heart,
T

Tammy and Natalia on KTCU-FM last night, Sunday, Sept.16th

I managed to snag some air-time to promote our play on "The Good Show" which airs weekly (Sundays) on KTCU-FM (88.7). Called Natalia, who was super-cool to drop everything--including precious possible sleeptime--to meet me for this broadcast opportunity.

We were on about 12 minutes, chatting about the project and the upcoming premiere, and Natalia read the "bicycle poem" that she performs in the play. Tom U, one of the co-hosts of the show, seemed very interested in the project, and we gave out the website URL a coupla times.

Fun times on the radio.

REHEARSAL LOCATION TONIGHT: 7pm-10pm at the Fire Station Community Center

We have rehearsed there one time before. Half of the basketball court/gym is what is available to us. No food/drink, please--but water okay.

7pm to 10pm --- please try not to be late. (or call me if you are going to be late---call before 7pm).

I expect everyone to be 98% off script/book. Someone will be there to call lines, if needed.

If you have props that are used in a scene you're in, bring them today.

FIRE STATION COMMUNITY CENTER IS LOCATED AT
1601 LIPSCOMB STREET - 76104.

NEAR CORNER OF HEMPHILL AND ALLEN STREETS.
BEHIND THE 7-11, PRACTICALLY.


Thank you, dearies.

Need help!!

Hey, y'all! The clock is ticking, and I am seeing all the specific things that I need to handle before Saturday.

YOU can help me and THE PROJECT (which is bigger than me) by:

1. Reposting bulletins on myspace and sending emailed versions of the flyer, press release, etc.
If you need any of these things, email me your specific request at tammygomexicanATyahoo.com
and i'll reply as soon as possible;

2. Delivering and posting hard copies of the flyer (and those little cards) all over creation. Natalia had
a great idea of handing out flyers near bicycle racks on the UTA campus. You could also staple flyers
around the frames of bikes. Can anyone do this on one (or more) of the TCC campuses, TCU, and
anywhere bicyclists hang out?

I personally have delivered/hung flyers at: SPIRAL DINER, PANTHER CITY BIKES, ASEL ART SUPPLY, FORT WORTH CAMERA, FOUR STAR COFFEE BAR (7th Street), BICYCLES, INC. (Granbury Rd.), ARTS FIFTH AVENUE, and 1919 HEMPHILL.

SOMEONE PLEASE deliver/hang a flyer at: COLONEL BIKES, PANTHER COFFEE HOUSE, HELIOTROPE, and any other place you
can think of---now's the time, por favor.

ALSO ALSO----we need a bunch of bicycle lights, or lights to be attached to bicycle frames. Bring to my house or to rehearsal, please.

ALSO ALSO ALSO----take a hint from Dominique: we can also do sidewalk/parking lot CHALK DRAWINGS announcing the show in front of places like the WRECK ROOM, AARDVARK, THE CELLAR, etc.

LASTLY, BUT IMPORTANT: We need help with transporting bicycles (there are THREE at my house), so those of you with rack room to spare, get in touch w/ me to coordinate this, por favor.

Hey, everyone----we need bike lights, any size, strength---even flashlights!

If you have some bike lights, flashlights, any kind of battery-powered light that can be fastened to a bicycle, please let me know or bring them to rehearsal.

Thanks!

T

BMXers, yes.

Someone, I think it was Molly, asked if we were going to still have BMXers. Yes, definitely. I've spoken to Andre, whom we met at the Undermain, and he's cool with performing on the 22nd.

Now, there's a woman BMXer in FW that I will invite to join us as well. "Buckethead Wendy" - does anyone know her?

So many details...

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

There are several rehearsals happening this week and weekend that you folks have set up yourselves. I appreciate that, knowing that whatever time you spend now working on the material will allow us a more easeful process next week.

Some of you are even reading your scenes over the phone. Very cool. Make the technology serve your needs.

I plan to email the final script sometime tomorrow--this will now include the latest AUDIO and VIDEO cues in it, as well
as the STAGE ENTRANCES and STAGE EXITS for each scene.

Of course, ask me for notes, etc., if needed. Call or email me, just please communicate any needs sooner than later. Gracias for that.


REHEARSALS::
________________

Friday, September 14, 6pm, Trinity Park - our usual spot.
Saturday evening, September 15, at Dina's - Curandera and Mama

MONDAY, September 17, TUESDAY, September 18, WEDNESDAY, September 19, THURSDAY, September 20 -
ENTIRE CAST - 7 to 10pm
(bikes and guitars everyday)
LOCATION TBA (but it'll be in FW, that's certain)

FRIDAY, September 21 - FULL DRESS REHEARSAL
ENTIRE CAST - 6 to 10pm
SANDERS THEATRE

___________________

thank you !!
love, Tammy

Cool photos from the Blay shoot.

I'm sending some files to Layne, our website designer. She should be happy to see these. They're actually very cool.

PHOTO SHOOT - location! Sorry i didn't make this more widely known on this channel

Sunday, September 9th - 5pm until we get all your pretty faces on film.

At the neighborhood park which is equi-distant from MAGNOLIA ST.
and ARTS FIFTH AVENUE.

Another way of telling it: from Magnolia St., passing Benito's and
Spiral Diner on your left (which means you're driving east), turn
RIGHT ONTO FIFTH AVENUE. Drive about 2 blocks and it's the sweet little
greenspace on your left. A coupla benches, no playground equipment. Sidewalks
border the entirety of the park.

Christopher Blay, our photographer, is bringing two backdrops and we'll work with them.
I have 3 bikes at my house. I can ride one to the park.

800 promo cards now being distributed.

Thanks to Layne, our website designer, for helping me with a high-res file I needed at the last minute. I handed cards out and/or left stacks of them at the following venues on Gallery Night (earlier tonight):

FIREHOUSE GALLERY,
WAREHOUSE STUDIO (where the Metrognome-sponsored event was happening),
ROSE MARINE THEATER,
another gallery on N. Main i cannot now remember the name of,
and the
HELIOTROPE CRAFT GALLERY.

We got promoted in Friday's STAR TIME in the FW Star-Telegram!

This is quoted from the blurb that's on the second-to-last page of this week's edition of STAR TIME:

"This just might be the most out-there piece of performance art you'll see this year."

Read the whole blurb and see the color photo (Natalia, Toria, Tammy are in this one) here.

+++++++

Also, got an email from Star-Telegram theater critic Mark Lowry yesterday. He plans to write a feature article on this project for next Sunday's (September 16th - Dies y Seis de Septiembre) Star-Telegram. This is awesome news!

Friday, Sept. 7th rehearsal - NOTES

Molly - Maria - Dominique - Tammy.

Worked on:
1. I See by the Seashore -- there were some change made (we'll have to show Nati, Jennet)
2. Drop into the Middle Sprocket -- worked out a better handclap rhythm, and it's tastier! great ideas from everyone.
3. "Tambourine" song/bike dance -- worked on segue from the biking to the dialogue

Thanks, everyone.

Maria, Maria, where for art thou, Maria!

Check in, please, about GIRLS rehearsal early Friday evening, Sept. 7th.

Rehearsal/work session at Cesar's palace tonight Sept.6th

Carlos and I met with Cesar this early evening in Arlington. Dina, unfortunately, couldn't join us. We worked on the audio/music cues for the Basco radio music scene. We also peeped the latest footage that Cesar had shot (Ramsey and Dom at Trinity Park among the trees; them loading/unloading bicycles on the T's bus racks/Dom in the "race scene" and her skimpy cheering section...)

Carlos WILL indeed be able to help us with vocal recordings. Dominique, that means you and me need to get together and do a recording session at mi casa or outside sometime soon.

new poem about getting soaked on saturday...

Saturday, September 01, 2007
Poem #244 of 365

I never saw someone reach his
mouth to devour the storm
as you did, my friend, on rainy
today.

You cuddled the trunk of a tree
and allowed the pressure of a
man's shoulder to comfort you
too, as your mouths upturned
in wizened thirst.

I took no time to notice the
configuration of puddle as I
twisted my feet to turn from
the car and join you, and
be with you in wet.

You offered a song, it was the
mist of your smile, and I felt
worshipping words touch my
own lips, and the rain licked
our clothes, sealing them to skin.

Dreamy in mud, I could not
leave you to mirth in isolation,
as that shower washed away
everything but the sweetness
in our lives.


copyright 2007 tammy melody gomez

[republished from my blog at xxcommunicator.blogspot.com]

Cesar posted this as a myspace bulletin.

Subject: Basco rocks

SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE
Written and Directed by Tammy Melody Gomez
World Theatre Premiere • September 22, 2007
World Car Free Day!

Sanders Theatre at The Fort Worth Community Art Center
1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth • 7:30pm

Basco, the character I play is an apocalyptic, cool ass vato and the more I study my lines the more I think he rocks. (Tammy could I wear a mullet and a Ron Jeremy stache?)

It's a really fantastic project & it only plays that one night. The cast is a really great goup of vagabond, poetic souls and we are all in great company.

(Mellow-Dee, how 'bout spiked hair w/my old football number shaved in the back of my head?)

It's gonna be one helluva.....!

CHECK IT OUT ON THE WEB: www.bikespokelove.com

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 - rehearsal location - 5:50pm until...

Location: Fire Station Community Center (just north of Allen St. -- 1 block west of Hemphill -- 2 minutes from Tammy's house)

We'll be in the gym - i'm renting half of the gym and it will all be closed off from others to use that evening.

We have that space from 6-8pm. Bring bikes. We need to knock out alot of blocking w/ bikes, and configure all the exits and entrances.

Carlos---could you make it to this?

Survey in Star-Telegram today - on bicycling

I haven't read it yet, but my mom says a writer named A.Tinsley wrote it.

One of the questions in the survey: "What would make you ride more?"

One answer I'd offer: "Seeing the show SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE would motivate me to get back on a bicycle!"

atinsley@star-telegram.com

16 more days to SHOWTIME!

Only 16 more days, folks. (I always count the day I'm in, how could you not?)

That's 16 days to build confidence in who you are as YOUR CHARACTER.

That's 16 days to perform ALL the lines from memory.

(By now, you should have memorized all the lines from the Undermain show--it's been over a month since that performance.)

Only 16 more DAYS until we bring the coolest bike drama in the world to a Fort Worth stage. (Probably the ONLY bike drama in the world...)


Keep smiling, you're all doing great.

Thank you!!

MAMA is now going to really be a mama!!!!!

Congratulations to Dina! You did it, little mama. I am super-happy for you. I'm going out after work to celebrate...thanks for the excuse to go have a beer w/ some friends tonight.

Our show is on the Ft.Worth Community Arts Center calendar now!

Here's the link to the online calendar for the FWCAC. (Move your mouse over SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE to read more info.) Please refer folks to this if they want more info on the venue for our show.

When telling your fans & friends about the show, please mention that it's gonna be a major clusterf**k down around the Will Rogers Coliseum/Omni Theater area on the night of our show.

Not only is the "Jazz on the Boulevard" jazz festival going to be in full swing on the streets down there, but the Fort Worth Community Arts Center itself is way booked in multiple spaces within that complex.

There is a WEDDING, a TANGO DANCE event, AND a QUEER COMEDY show happening in that building on the same night as our premiere. Alot of hubub indeed.


[Some of my colleagues believe, as I do, that cramming too many events in one center--particularly when those events are weddings and class reunion-type shindigs--shows that the priority seems to be on making money (e.g., with rentals) than on showcasing artists in a professional manner.]

Bike parking - night of our show

Quick note: I had just mailed a letter at the post office on 7th Street, mid-afternoon Friday (August 31st), when I spotted a little BMX-type bike leaning against the front of J & J's Hideaway (local watering hole).

I decided that I needed to find out who owned that bike; I had a strong feeling that I'd know the person.

As I approached the bar, the guy came out, and it was Stephen Moore aka "Massage Peddler" (he used to, maybe still does practice massage for cyclists). Stephen and I went to the same Catholic school, decades ago. We embraced, greeting one another, and he asked what I was up to.

Bike play, basically. And then, Stephen seemed to know exactly all about it. "Oh, it's going to be at the Sanders Theatre, yeah, my friend told me." Turns out, Stephen also runs lights and sound there, and will, most likely, be running lights for our show.

Stephen then said, "We're taking care of the bike rack for you." (What???!!!!!) Apparently, he has another bike fiend buddy who owns a rack that they're gonna haul over to the front lawn of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center--where the Sanders is located.

Stephen also offered the use of bikes, if we need any.

Magic happens if you slow down enough to notice it, make a place for it.

UPCOMING REHEARSALS / CAST PHOTO SHOOT (part deux)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5: Ramsey and Dominique - my place - guitar and bikes - 10am

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6: Cesar, Richard, Jacob, Dominique, Esa - BASCO SCENES INTENSIVE - 6pm - LOCATION TBD

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: GIRLS rehearsal - outdoors w/ bikes - after 6pm - LOCATION TBD
(Natalia cannot join us 'til after 8pm.)


NEEDED:

Richard and Dominique - REHEARSAL INTENSIVE - with guitar and bikes (Thursday morning, Friday morning??)

Opalina and Dina (possibly with Dominique) - LIMPIA SCENE INTENSIVE - when?????

Richard and Jacob - SECTIONAL REHEARSAL INTENSIVE w/ bike stunt - when???????


IMPORTANT::::

A second photo shoot will take place on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th - outdoors with bikes - 5pm
(Christopher Blay will be shooting with a special Polaroid film camera.)

Preliminary run-through w/ bikes and music and props - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th - 6pm - LOCATION TBD

Devin's mother sent a thank-you early this a.m.

Date: September 4, 2007 4:44 AM
Subject: Your dedication to Devin Re: She/bike/spoke/love

Tammy,

Thank you so very much for your dedication to Devin. Jeremy asked if he could put it on her website (I hope that is OK with you). He was so pleased (we are).

You are so gifted! I'm glad it is all coming together for you.

Blessings,

Daina

Sunday , Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 3 rehearsals - NOTES

Sunday, September 2nd:

Dominique and I traveled to Dina's home, where Opalina also met us. The four of us worked until after midnight. Eight o'clock until after midnight. (Dominique and I actually left Dina's around 12:30am)

Great session: Opalina and Dina got more established blocking cues. Opalina has more "intention" now. Everyone worked on increasing their volume. Dominique was helpful in calling lines--thanks for doing that.

Cesar couldn't meet w/ us, but Dina-Dom-I read through the "new" last section of the MAMA/BASCO/KEN SABE scene. It's finished, guys. I was relieved to hear that the scene reads well.


Monday, September 3rd:

Molly, Natalia, Dominique, and I gathered for GIRLS rehearsal. Worked on poem that Natalia performs; "I See by the Seashore"; and the "Tambourine" bike dance. Everyone is liking how "I See by the Seashore" is coming together. Great ideas were suggested by everyone! Thanks.

THANK YOU, Jacob, for showing up and doing a little rehearsing on your Ella/Wise Cracker scene!

Communique from Jeremy (re: Tribute to Devin page on Myspace)

>From: "Jeremy Brown"
>To: sound_culture@hotmail.com
>Subject: Hey Tammy
>Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 11:38:56 -0400
>
>My name is Jeremy and I'm an old friend of Devin's and I just saw the
>tribute page on the She: Bike/Spoke/Love site! Thank you so much for that...
>
>
>I created and now maintain (along with her mother) Devin's Tribute page on
>MySpace and would love to put the logo from the home page on Devin's tribute
>page and provide a link...
>
>Would that be alright? If so, e-mail me the pic/logo and I'll 'throw' i up!
>
>-Jeremy


hi, Jeremy:

Thanks for the message.

Daina already knows about the play/project, and I am hoping that she can make it out to see the FW premiere of the show. I am now hoping that you can share that evening with us as well.

Yes, definitely, you may make a link from the DEVIN TRIBUTE page to my website. Attached is the jpg of the project logo. (The original design was created as a woodblock print by Austin artist Beth Ferguson. A local graphic design student, Fabian Gomez, and my website designer, Layne Calabro, embellished the original drawing using Photoshop.)

Thanks for your interest and for continuing to cherish and honor Devin.

peace&blessings,

Tammy

Labor Day rehearsals: Sept.3 - Monday

PART ONE: Dominique & Ramsey - can thee get together with mee today? After the Labor Day picnic among the trees, perhaps?

PART TWO: In the cool of the evening, I would love to meet THE GIRLS at 6-7pm. Then, if THE GUYS (Richard, Jacob, Robby) could meet us from 7-8pm, we could work on 2 or 3 scenes where the GIRLS and the GUYS are together onstage.

Basco - Mama - Ken Sabe scene is finished.

I'll email it to anyone who wants to see it. Let me know.

Of course, Cesar & Richard, I'm forcing you to read it (and, oh, uh, memorize it as well).

Dina and Dominique and I read through the scene tonight---actually, early this morning. It met with the approval of Dina and Dom. Thank you, ladies, for your kind feedback and reassurances.

dead musicians - bicyclists struck by automobiles

NICO - singer with the Velvet Underground and sometime muse to Bob Dylan

For over twenty years, Nico was heroin dependent. Biographer Richard Witts speculated that the habit was caused by her traumatic experiences of war and of being an illegitimate child.

In his book Nico—Songs They Never Play on the Radio, James Young, a member of her band in the 80's, recalls many examples of Nico's fiendish behaviour due to the addiction. Just before her death, she had managed to kick the habit and had embarked on a regime of exercise and healthy eating.

On July 18, 1988, the musician was injured riding her bicycle while on holiday with her son, Ari, in her favourite haunt of previous years, Ibiza, Spain. She had a minor heart attack while riding her bicycle and hit her head as she fell. A passer-by taxi driver found her unconscious, but had difficulty getting her admitted to local hospitals. She was incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from exposure, and died the next day. X-rays later revealed severe bleeding in her brain as the cause of death.

She was buried in her mother's plot in Grunewald Forest Cemetery in Berlin. A few friends played "Mütterlein", a song from Desertshore, on a cassette recorder, at her funeral.


Mary Hansen - member of Stereolab

Mary Hansen (November 1, 1966 - December 9, 2002) was guitarist and singer with Stereolab.

Born in Maryborough near Brisbane in Australia, Hansen moved to London in the late 1980s and became a backing singer with the Essex-based indie band, The Wolfhounds.
She met Stereolab founder Tim Gane when the Wolfhounds played with his band McCarthy, and joined Stereolab as second vocalist in 1992. She also played guitar, as well as percussion and keyboards, and occasionally sang lead vocals.

Hansen was struck by a truck and killed while riding her bicycle in London, December 9, 2002. She was 36-years-old.

In 2004, Hybird, an album of some of Hansen's music, was released posthumously. This album, which also featured her artwork, contained three tracks which had been released in limited editions before her death, and a final track which was finished by Andy Ramsay of Stereolab.

Brent Liles - bass player with both Social Distortion and Agent Orange

Former Social Distortion and Agent Orange bassist Brent Liles was killed when his bicycle was struck by a large truck in January 2007.

Liles was entering the crosswalk at the Orange Freeway in Placentia, California when the tractor-trailer turned right on a green light on to an on-ramp, accelerated and hit the musician. The 43-year-old Liles was pronounced dead at the scene, but it took two days to identify him. The accident is being investigated, but no charges have been laid against the trucker at this point.

Liles joined Social Distortion in 1981 and played on the Orange County punkabilly band's critically-acclaimed and influential "Mommy's Little Monster" debut album two years later. He was featured prominently in the "Another State Of Mind" documentary that examined the early struggles of Social Distortion and fellow punk bands Youth Brigade and Minor Threat as they toured across the U.S. Liles became frustrated with the Mike Ness-fronted band's lack of commercial achievement and, along with drummer Derek O'Brien, quit in the middle of a show on New Year's Eve as 1983 turned into 1984. Liles went on to play with a number of other SoCal punk bands, with Agent Orange being the most prominent.

"Bicycle Bicycle You are My Bicycle" - lyrics

"Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle"
by Be Your Own Pet

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

We will come to your town
Burn your house down
Turn the sky brown
All because, all because

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Change the eye colour
Of every lady
We're fast, we're fast
We're fast we're having a blast
All because

We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Change the colour of your make up
All the sleepyheads will wake up
All because all because all because
Because because because because...

No gears no brakes no reals no fakes! (repeatedly)

Have fun, and be safe with it
Just kidding, fuck shit up
We ride bikes, cars are for idiots
All because, all because
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby

Rehearsal: Sunday, September 2nd - 8pm

Dominique, Dina, and Opalina will be rehearsing at Dina's place at 8pm. (Perhaps Cesar can join us so he can work w/ Dina on the MAMA and BASCO scene...)

I'll definitely be there as well.

Monday, September 3rd - Rehearsal AND Labor Day Picnic/Rally

Monday, there's a Labor Day picnic at the site where some trees are earmarked for clearcutting. It's a kind of protest/rally event, but a fun one nonetheless. I'll be there, and so will Ramsey and some other cast members (11am-2pm).

If we could have a rehearsal with THE GIRLS (Natalia, Molly, Jennet, Dominique, Toria) that would be cool.
7-9pm or 6-8pm---I have to make calls.

Notes on video shoot and rehearsal, Saturday, Sept. 1st

Fernando Palomo showed up to be one of our racing cyclists in the video scene of a bike race. Unfortunately, he was not able to bring any other racers along with him. But, helpful as he wanted to be, Fern strode out to the bike paths trying to recruit people bicycling along the way.

In the meantime, we (Molly, Carlos, Richard, Robby, Dominique, and I) helped Cesar prepare for the video shoot. We inflated balloons and taped them to sticks; we set up a race course line with crepe paper and some bamboo poles; we made signs to hold as the crowd cheering the racers. Eventually, Cesar shot some video of Dominique in her "racing" get-up (colorfully-painted helmet, work gloves--thanks, Fern--, and a balloon for the cruiser). Some storm clouds gathered and the sky darkened as Robby forecast that rain would be imminent.

We shot as much as we could with "Esa" before the first thunderclaps sounded. I urged everyone to pack up immediately, and we walked quickly--carrying bags and boxes of our gear and supplies--towards our cars. By the time we were mere feet from the parking lot, the clouds spilled upon us.

The rain ended up being harmless and, more importantly, a gorgeous relief. My favorite "Kodak" moment was watching Robby and Richard huddled up near a tree, with Richard smiling ecstatically as he got drenched.

I stood outside and let the heavens rinse the sweat off my skin. We were like children not wanting to go indoors. Or get into our confining cars. It was a very beautiful and cathartic rainfall.

We (Richard, Cesar, Dominique, Robby, Carlos, and I) went to Ole South for some grub and were pleased to see the sun eventually emerge once again. We looked a bit weird, arriving at the restaurant all soaking wet, with shiny hair. There were plenty of belly laughs, as we communed and joked around the table. We left soggy spots on the vinyl seating, but oh well. Afterwards, we phoned Jacob to meet us back @ the park, where Cesar shot some more video footage of Dominique and also of the starting gun--thanks to Carlos for bringing it today, and "performing" as the hand that pulls the trigger.

Jacob showed up and the BASCO scenes were rehearsed. We kept joking about how good Ramsey read the Basco lines last week, and now that's one of our running jokes.

Cesar and guys enjoyed the Basco beers almost as much as they enjoyed rehearsing the scenes. They did some very good work.

Oh, Dominique caught a tiny frog--smaller than your average thumb--and we got to have a peek at it for a few minutes.

Robby is joining us as one of THE GUYS. He stuck around for a while watching the others rehearse.

All in all, a productive day.

Too bad we didn't get Fern on tape, though. Maybe he'll be willing to try again next week. Vamos a ver.

Our website is up and LIVE as of today !

Please check out the website for She: Bike/Spoke/Love. It just went live today!

Check it @
www.bikespokelove.com.

love, T

She: Bike/Spoke/Love at the Sanders Theatre, 7:30pm, Saturday, September 22nd.

Hey, you hot BIke/Spoke/Love lovelies!


It's on! We're presenting the WORLD PREMIERE (yeah, i know it sounds kind of ostentatious, pretentious, but i don't care)

of SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE (also can be typed as: She: Bike/Spoke/Love)

on World Car-Free Day 2007,

Saturday, September 22nd - 7:30pm

at the Sanders Theatre - Fort Worth Community Arts Center,
1300 Gendy Street (just south of the Amon Carter Museum)

in Fort Worth.


Admission: $3 if you travel car-free to the theatre / $10 if you don't

_________________________________________________________________________

so, go ahead, start telling everybody - blast it to the world. yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I misspelled "Steinem" in the script. Here's more on Ms. Gloria

Nati:

If you could take a few minutes, please please check out the following links online. For more info on Ms. Gloria Steinem. At the Wikipedia site, you can scroll down for some links to AUDIO and VIDEO of her!!

mil gracias,
Tammy
_________________________________________

WIKIPEDIA ENTRY -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Steinem

IF MEN COULD MENSTRUATE -
http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/steinem.menstruate.html

MORE OF HER AMAZINGLY INSIGHTFUL AND FUNNY QUOTES -
http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_g_steinem.htm

lyrics: "De Paisano a Paisano"

De Paisano A Paisano
lyrics (Los Tigres Del Norte)


Como el águila en vuelo
como la fiera en celo
desafiando fronteras
defendiendo el honor
he pasado la vida explorando
otras tierras para darles a mis
hijos un mañana mejor.

Si la muerte me alcanza en su loca
carrera envuelto en mi bandera que me
lleven allá, que me canten el himno de
mi patria diez meses o me muero dos
veces si me entierran acá.

De paisano a paisano del hermano
al hermano por querer trabajar, nos
han hecho la guerra patrullando
fronteras no nos pueden domar.

De paisano a paisano del hermano
al hermano ese hombre es llorar,
como duele la patria cuando llora
mi raza llanto internacional.

*De paisano a paisano antes de seguir
cantando yo le pregunto al patrón, quien
recoge la cosecha quien trabaja en la
limpieza hoteles y restaurants y
quien se mata trabajando en construcción
mientras el patrón regaña tejiendo la
telaraña en su lujosa mansión.

Muchas veces ni nos pagan, para que
sale la llaga como sale envenenada
nos echan la inmigración si con mi
canto pudiera derrumbaría las fronteras
para que el mundo viviera con una
sola bandera en una misma nación*.

De paisano a paisano del hermano
al hermano por querer trabajar, nos
han hecho la guerra patrullando
fronteras no nos pueden domar.

De paisano a paisano del hermano
al hermano ese hombre es llorar,
como duele la patria cuando llora
mi raza llanto internacional.

Rehearsal TONIGHT, August 27th - 7pm - LOCATION is different!

Tonight we are meeting in a larger and more comfortable (a/c) space.

7pm - Monday, August 27th.

Auditorium 3-110.
University of North Texas Health Science Center (where i work part-time).

Directions from Camp Bowie, heading AWAY from downtown:

Drive WEST (downtown is BEHIND you) on Camp Bowie.
As you approach the museums, get into the right-hand lane.
Turn RIGHT at CLIFTON St.
Go NORTH on CLIFTON, and turn LEFT into the SECOND STEEP PARKING LOT (PAST the
parking garage). You must pass the PARKING GARAGE first. Go UP the hill and PARK.
Walk into "garage" of the building (THE CLINIC) but enter
at entrance labeled 4-PME7 and go through the automatic doors.
(Don't enter through the glass doors--that's the Clinic.)

Walk up to the carpeted section of the corridor to the SECOND FIRE
EXTINGUISHER (wall phone is there too) on the right-hand side.

We will be in the AUDITORIUM - 3-110.

See you there!

Bring bikes for photo shoot, at 8:30pm!

I have FIVE bios from 5 people----need the others asap!

Otherwise, you'll just be represented by a blank space next to your name.

Thanks for your cooperation.

love,
T

Urgent: Sunday rehearsal change

It has occurred to me that Cesar, Richard, and Jacob MUST meet one another as BASCO, KEN SABE, AND WISE CRACKER. (Cesar cannot make the Monday rehearsal.)

So, Richard & Jacob, how do you feel about trekking to Arlington to rehearse with Cesar at his place?

Evening, Sunday, after 7pm.

Please lemme know, guys.


SORRY TO THE GIRLS. It's more crucial @ this moment to get these 3 cast members together to mark their lines for those brand-new scenes with the brand-new character.

Forgive my apparent fickle-ness.

Photo shoot - at the end of our Monday rehearsal, August 27th

I am sorry to not have been in touch w/ you sooner, but life has been total mayhem for the past 72 hours. Even missed two days of work (that's a rarity) in just one week. Allergeez.

Stress? That's an understatement.

I've been going bonkers and have had to self-medicate (2 high-balls at an event I had to work) this evening, so I could calm down.

I went ahead and made a decision about our photo shoot. I would like for us to meet for Monday rehearsal (7pm) and then connect with the photographer at the Wreck Room at or around 8:30pm (before the FWAC showcase). We can be in the parking lot just to the west of the Wreck Room (colorful murals can be used as our backdrop).

Kat Shimamoto to shoot cast photos

Hey, everyone!

My long-time friend, Kat Shimamoto, has agreed to shoot the cast photos for us. She has work on a blog that she started earlier this year, and some of her photos are included in the Wreck Room Tribute anthology that her husband, music writer Ken Shimamoto, published several months ago.

How many of you cast members (including Carlos) can show up for a photo shoot on Saturday afternoon (2-4pm) ?

How many of you might be able to make a Sunday afternoon (3-5pm) photo shoot?


Call me, let me know, por favor.

Dina apologizes for missing Monday rehearsal

Dina "Mama" Chavez had to be out on Monday because she spent about 26 hours at Parkland Memorial Hospital with a very ill cousin who needed emergency care.

I emailed Dina a copy of the revised script and she is willing to rehearse with Curandera and Esa (Dom and Opal) as soon as this wk-end.

Bios due by Saturday 12 midnight, please

If I get your bios by Saturday 12 midnight, I can start working with them on Sunday, once I return from Austin.

Please see previous blogpost (scroll down) for more details about bios.

THANKS!

Media contacts - publicity

If you happen to have a chum, buddy, or cousin in the local-to-national media, now's the time to let me know. If you don't mind sharing your contact's email/phone/mailing address, etc., that would be helpful as we get ready to send out our press release.


ALSO-----THIS IS A BIG ALSO:

Please send me your 3-to-10 line BIO.

PLEASE EMAIL IT TO THIS EMAILING ADDRESS (don't send it via myspace--it's too unwieldy and time-consuming)

send it here ============> tammygomexican@yahoo.com

Your bio can be sad, snarky, sweet, "professional", seductive, or scintillating. Just keep it at 3-to-10 lines in
length.

Here's one that I've written (and I've had to submit dozens of these over the years): it's 52 words in 7 lines.
Sit down, fall in love w/ yourself, and write about it. Then edit what you wrote, use word-count, trim off the fat, punch up the descriptive vocab, and you'll probably have a winner.


bio - 52 words - 7 lines [sample] :

Tammy Gomez, a 2007 Texas Medal of Arts award
nominee, graduated from Goucher College (Maryland)
in 1985. Her literary performance works include
the award-winning “Maya Matematica” and “Malinchuca”.
She has received grants from Humanities Texas and the
Ford Foundation. She is also a small-press publisher
(Tejana Tongue Press), activist, and arts educator.


HAVE FUN WRITING YOUR BIO.
I CANNOT WAIT TO READ IT. cuz I have no idea who you are....hahaha.

(Carlos, this includes you.)

Rehearsal/pre-production schedule - please note.

[It would be most helpful if those of you wanting to work on specific scenes--the one-on-ones, especially--could go ahead and set up times to meet, and then get w/ me to see if I can be there as well. In some cases, you might just ask me for DIRECTOR'S NOTES in advance, and then you can do the scene work without me. Thanks, in advance, for your initiative and diligence with this. besitos, Tammy ]


MONDAY, August 20th - 7pm - my place. Read-through of script---entire cast please. No bikes needed.

TUESDAY, August 21st - Individual rehearsal(s)-Richard & Dominique?---tbd.

WEDNESDAY, August 22nd - Dominique & Ramz---time tbd.

THURSDAY, August 23rd - Dina & Dominique & Cesar & Opalina----before 7pm.

FRIDAY, August 24th - ALL GIRLS - bicycle "dance" rehearsal----6pm

SATURDAY, August 25th - Tammy in Austin

SUNDAY, August 26th - Richard, Cesar, Jacob---time tbd.

MONDAY, August 27th - entire cast---time and location tbd.

MONDAY, September 3rd - entire cast--- " " "

FRIDAY, September 7th OR SATURDAY, September 8th - VIDEO (Cesar/Raul) and AUDIO (Carlos) run-through

SUNDAY, September 9th - preliminary run-through---entire cast WITH VIDEO and AUDIO---time and location tbd.

MONDAY, September 10th - entire cast--- " " "

MONDAY, September 17th - entire cast--- " " "

THURSDAY, September 20th - entire cast--- " " "

FRIDAY, September 21st - entire cast--- " " "

SATURDAY, September 22nd - SHOWDATE

"Muerte de Ciclista" at the Modern Art Museum last night

Four of us involved with the project/play got out to see the only local screening of MUERTE DE CICLISTA, a Franco-era Spanish film, directed by anti-Franco filmmaker Juan Antonio Bardem--during a time of censorship and oppression of resistance in the arts. When, in 2007? No, in the 1950s. But alot of the themes of that period film could resonate strongly today. Both Ramz and I agreed that we would like to see a contemporary remake of this movie.

Hmm, it was Natalia, Ramz, Jennet, and I that saw the pelicula. It was very cool, very good. Done well.

We chuckled quite a bit during some specific scenes depicting hypocrisy, emotional manipulation, and outright scoundrel-ism (yeah, i just made up that word.)...

Thanks to Jennet for the complimentary tickets, thanks to Ramz for the ride.


"In Spanish director Juan Antonio Bardem's lacerating Death of a Cyclist (1955), released in America as Age of Infidelity, a couple traveling through the countryside strike a man on a bicycle. When they get out of their car to examine him, they find that he is injured but not dead. But instead of helping the man, Juan (Alberto Closas) and Maria Jose (Lucia Bosé) do the unthinkable. They flee - rather than reveal that they have been carrying on a long-term affair.

When they return to Madrid, the couple pay a terrible price for their deception. Guilt begins to gnaw away at them, especially at Juan, who is also experiencing conflict with his young students over an ethical issue at the university where he teaches.

Maria Jose is less bothered by the moral implications of killing a man, as she is fearful that her affair will be discovered and her social position slip should her wealthy industrialist husband Miguel (Otello Toso) find out. Matters become even more complicated when the couple discover a member of their social circle, a hanger-on and art critic, Rafa (Carlos Casaravilla), may know something about their affair and the crime and intends to trade on what he knows for money.

Maintaining an intense level of suspense, director Juan Antonio Bardem examines not only the burden of guilt, but also a Spanish society of disturbing schisms where people like Juan and Maria Jose operate above the law, in a bubble of wealth and privilege, while far below people like the dead cyclist's family and neighbors struggle to survive. These themes are further articulated in a haunting musical score by Isidro B. Maiztegui.

Unlike the dominant cinema of the day, Bardem veered away from the militarist, costume dramas and literary adaptations preferred during Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Highly influenced in tone and style by Italian neorealism, Bardem helped bring Spanish cinema to international prominence with his socially conscious and stylish films.

Bardem, who initially trained as an agricultural engineer, would go on to direct a number of other films which often concentrated on a central character named Juan and his disgust with the suffocating society in which he lived.

Death of a Cyclist was hailed by the international film community and became a winner of the International Critics Award at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. At least one American critic was unable to appreciate Bardem's gift. In an ungenerous and shortsighted review in The New York Times, Bosley Crowther criticized Bardem's unique style in which the lovers are perpetually linked through editing, a self-consciously artful device which Crowther misunderstood as a technical deficiency.

At the time of his Cannes award, Bardem was serving a prison sentence for his political beliefs, until international outcry eventually led to his release from prison. Nevertheless, Bardem was arrested a total of seven times under Franco."

Friday, August 17th video shoot

Gosh, I wish I had more time to detail how grueling (hot, sweaty, humid) but sometimes relieving (tree shade, overcast skies, welcomed fluffy clouds, a satisfying video take) the day was for us: Cesar, Ramz, Dominique, and me.

It had to be an early morning shoot, as the Trinity Park Miniature Train was scheduled to start its day--of carting around kids and their families--at 11am. And, as we intended to get the ultimate footage of ESA and EL SABE on the "Truss" bridge by the Trinity River, we absolutely had to be out there, outside, by 10am. Or so, we had hoped. Poor Dominique, she had to rush back home to retrieve the ELECTRA cruiser, which she'd forgotten to load on her car.

So, Ramz, Cesar and I moved on ahead to set up the camera, set up the shot, and wait for ESA. By the time ESA and EL SABE were positioned for the shoot, over the water on a SUSPENSION BRIDGE with wide openings between the wood slats (i'm talking wide open to swallow an ankle!), it was close to 10:45am. The mini-train had already taken its position at the station and I could see ticket-bearing families jumping aboard. And there we were, in a potential STAND BY ME moment (there's a part in that movie where the boys just barely avoid being hit by an oncoming train by jumping off the tracks and into a leech-infested creek or river below) and we were sweaty, our clothes clinging to our skin, and every breeze felt like manna from heaven. Finally, Cesar called out "action!" from across the river, and the shooting began. We shot about 4 takes before Cesar gave the thumbs-up, and I was so sure that the train was gonna come careening onto us, and Dom or Ramz would have to climb the bridge framework to avoid becoming flat as pancakes. As we all made our way off the bridge and onto safe ground, the train started up, and I was the only one left on the tracks---20 feet or so above the water--I tried not to panic as my feet sought solid placement on each plank of wood. You could see the water below, the long drop to hit it, through the wood slats. It's freakin' scary when your mind starts imagining unpleasant possibilities. And it didn't help that Dom and Ramz started yelling, "it's right behind you!", "it's going really fast!" and the like. "Shut up!" I yelled at them, trying hard to take a joke.

What we will do for art... Actually, the surge of adrenaline that coursed through my veins is the elixir of an artist's life. I love it.

Afterwards, we did some shooting at the longer bridge that spans the Trinity River, and only Dom was performing in that. What a trooper. Cesar kept saying, "Let's do it again." Over and over, repeat and repeat, aiming for the ultimate take. Thanks so much to Dominique for keeping a level head and a great attitude throughout. And Ramz too.

I think we had the most fun shooting among the grove of trees that is actually destined to be clearcut for the freakin' money-grubbin' gas drilling companies (Chesapeake?) to set up one of their hideous, obnoxiously-loud, and dangerous gas drill sites. As we rehearsed and prepped for this scene to be shot, bicyclists and joggers would pass by and Ramz would call out to them that "these trees are going to be cut down". One jogger seemed very sad about this, and was already planning to attend the big Labor Day Picnic which is scheduled to happen at this site, in order to rally in support of protecting these trees from demolition.

I am SO happy that we've chosen to include a moment in our play about this place, this grove of trees. You should have seen how much fun (was it acting? i don't think so...) that Dom and Ramz had, peddling among these trees in their shade. In a place that is truly threatened by big-money developers. I wish this part was fictitious, but it isn't at all.

Lastly, we ended up at the ITC (Inter-Modal Transportation Center), where Cesar shot some footage of Ramz and Dom placing their bikes on the bike racks which are attached to the front of all the T's buses. That was fast and easy, and by then the sky was pretty overcast, and the sudden onset of breezes cooled us.

Rain was in the forecast, but none fell on us that day. We are lucky that way, sometimes.

We are thankful for this, always.

Sleepily and hungrily, Ramz, Cesar, and Dom bid each other adieu.

I took Cesar to Benito's for a working lunch, to discuss his character "Basco" and some other things about the video for the play.

By the time he dropped me off at home, it was time for a nap. Did I get one? Not really. Too much on my mind, too much left to do...as always.

Tuesday/Wednesday, August 14-15

On these days, I focused on the production end of this project. I was in contact with Mel--who is now helping us with media/promotion, venue search, and some other admin. issues--and Layne, who is building our website. Trying to decide which design concept to go with, as provided by Fabian Gomez.

I've also spent alot of time online, looking through scads of bicycle community, underground bikes, bike film festival blogs and websites. Am compiling a list which Mel will help me use in terms of future bookings and cross-promotional opportunities.

Also am keeping up with submission and registration deadlines for both submitting the script to performance, theater, Latino arts, and bicycle-related festivals.

Lots of detail to attend to. (It's tough, cuz when I'm working on the script and with the actor/performers, I start fretting about the admin/production stuff that isn't being worked on. And when I start focusing on the admin/production stuff, I worry that I'm not spending enough time on the script, with the actors. Producing AND directing/writing is very hellacious to try to juggle...I'm learning more and more about this process--how it needs to be on a bigger-scale project--and am trying not to complain. After all, I made my bed....)

Spent the hottest (afterwards, i heard it had been a Red Zone air quality afternoon!) part of Wednesday, driving around in my un-airconditioned car visiting a few potential venue sites. Scouting, scouting.

I hear that buzz is building around this play, and that comforts me. Am glad that folks, local and beyond, are talking up this project and are interested in being in the audience for it.

Monday, Aug.13 rehearsal - Jacob, Maria, Richard, Esa.

1. Jacob arrived first.
2. Esa brought her guitar, but never got to play it. (I'm concerned about her wrist....didn't know she was having troubles w/ it.
3. Maria seemed to be feeling better. She practiced some of her key lines with a Mexican-Spanish accent. Lots of progress here, lots of laughing ensued as well. It's a trip how we have gotten "baggage" about sounding like our ancestors if we have even the slightest accented English. It takes a while for us, sometimes, to feel permitted to take on an accent that is unfamiliar and is also so politically-charged--particularly in these anti-Mexican immigrant times. We discussed this a little bit, and all agreed that the last thing we want to do is present a stereotype in the character of ELLA.
4. Greyscale is good.
5. We had a great discussion--each actor gave insight into WHO their character is. It was really useful for me, as writer-director, to hear what Richard (Ken Sabe), Jacob (Wise Cracker), Dominique (Esa), and Maria (Ella) had decided about the characters they are portraying. Putting more flesh on the bones that I'd presented to them. I listened carefully, and definitely like the nuances that each actor put forward about their character. No one is an angel or 100% devil in this play, there are shades of "imperfection" in each character, particularly because they are in a pivotal growth spurt (for the most part)---being in their late teens to early early 20s. Each character is still learning who he or she is and/or possibly might someday become.
6. Maria and Jacob did the bike limpia scene.
7. I offered the backstory about Ida Gone having text-messaged Ken Sabe, and that that perturbed Esa so that at the end of that bike limpia scene, Esa's reluctance to embrace Ken is understandable--his behavior reminds her of her father's philandering ways. Old baggage pops up coloring the present situation...
8. Jacob and Ken Sabe worked on a new scene--the "sectional furniture" scene. Very interesting viewpoints emerged. Good workout for these guys--I love how everyone (Dom, Ramsey, and now Jacob and Richard) seem so comfortable doing improv.
9. You guys are articulate, insightful, flexible, and empathetic.
10. This ain't no disco.

Esa, check this out!

"The beer flowed freely and everyone was drinking their fill and before I even knew what was happening three of my hottest friends and I ended up in my bed. We all knew where it was going..."

bike porn from freewheelingspirit.blogspot.com.

Devin's mom contacted me the other night

[For those of you who don't know yet, Devin Adams is the name of the dear beloved friend and fellow comrade-artista-sister spirit who died in a fatal bicycle accident (hit by car) last September. Devin is in my thoughts alot of the time when I am working on this project, as it is certain that she would have been an integral member of the cast...as it is, she is my spirit-counselor. I was driving around today, looking at potential performance spaces, holding her necklace in my lap and asking her to please "help me decide on the right spot for this play." So, anyway, it was kind of out-of-the-blue that I received a myspace message from Devin's mom, Daina, earlier this week. The following is the e-conversation we had...]


From me to Devin's mom:


"Yes, Daina: How are you? How wonderful that you've messaged me!

It's been a hard long 3-4 months, as I am working on a dream project. A bicycle love story for the stage. This is a project I've been developing since about 2003, and it is finally coming to fruition in September, next month.

What I have been wanting to make a moment to share w/ you is that Devin is very much in my heart, in this project, and I know that she would definitely have been onstage with us doing this performance. She is with us and HAS already been with me on this---I know that for a fact.

I had applied for funding (artist grants) for this particular project (in 2003 and again in 2005), but it was only in 2006--late September, 2006, that I finally was offered a nice grant for this play. I never have gotten to tell you that the day that I reached into my mailbox--I think it was September 27th or 28th--I saw the return address on the envelope and knew it was the arts organization's decision. When I lifted the envelope out of the box, and felt the thickness of the envelope--I started to cry and thanked Devin immediately--I knew that I had been awarded funding. A skinny envelope would have been a simple rejection notice. But before I even opened the envelope, I knew that I had been blessed, and before I read the letter, I knew to thank Devin. It was instinctive, I firmly believed that she "put in a good word for me" up there....

Of course, the words on the letter confirmed what I already knew. I immed. started phoning family and friends to share the positive news.

Almost a year later, we are working hard--everyone on the team/the cast--which includes Ramsey. We are singing songs, reciting poems, speaking our beliefs with conviction and positive spirits. Devin's spirit is among us, for sure.

The show will premiere on Saturday, September 22nd--which is known internationally as WORLD CAR-FREE DAY. We will perform in Fort Worth, though at this moment, I do not know where. I am struggling to find a big enough place (warehouse bldg. with a/c and lights) to rent for several days in the Fort Worth area, as we have lots of bicycling included in the performance.

As soon as we know our performance location, I will let you know where that will be.

(Of course, if you have any leads to a location, please do let me know asap.)

Here is my mailing address:

xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
Fort Worth, TX xxxxx.


I hope to hear from you again soon, and I will certainly let you know more about our premiere of SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE
as the date draws near."

peace,

Tammy



----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Tribute to Devin
Date: Aug 12, 2007 4:20 PM


Tammy,

Please send me your address so I can send an invitation to you. My email address is burleson.adventist@sbcglobal.net.

I hope you are well.

With love,

Daina

Rehearsal this evening, Sunday, August 12th - 6pm-8pm

Maria, Natalia, Molly, Dominique, and I got together for some intensive GIRLS rehearsing. With and without bikes.

1. See by the Seashore segment.
2. Pinkie toes dialogue.
3. Hate Stop, Can Live w/ Slow segment (kudos to Dom for memorizing this piece in less than 4 days!!!).
4. Speaking parts to precede "You failed like a sail" segment.

That's a lot to cover in 2 hours, but we managed to touch on each of these segments in a fun, but focused, manner.

We also took some time out to go over the "Tambourine--Eve" bike dance segment. The GIRLS had just been introduced to this on Friday evening, but I can tell it's getting implanted pretty deeply in body memory. ("The body remembers what the mind forgets." - Frank O'Hara)

Good Sunday session.

(Notes to self: Email script to Molly. I gave copy of music on cd to Natalia tonight; it has all the music used thus far, except for the Eve "Tambourine" track.)

ESA knows that she's to rehearse tomorrow w/ Richard and Jacob, and Maria might also stop in as well.

Handsome cast, eh?

Sorry that Richard and Jacob were elsewhere during this moment. They were practicing their fly b-boy moves, no doubt...

YOUR OWN WORDS - Dallas Morning News feature in today's issue

(photo credit to RICKY MOON/Special Contributor)

YOUR OWN WORDS
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, August 12, 2007

Tammy Gomez
Poet, playwright, publisher (Tejana Tongue Press)

What she's reading: Mahcic: Selected Poems, by Tomás Riley

Why: "This book of poems, published by Calaca Press in 2005, was recently mailed to me by Riley himself, who is a friend and colleague based in the Bay Area. Mahcic is the name of Tomás' first-born son, and the poems, reminiscent of the best work of Victor Hernandez Cruz (Snaps) and David Henderson (De Mayor of Harlem), show the scope of interrogations a 21st-century first-time father cannot help but make as he reckons with sociopolitical and family history. A swollen, visceral, tri-cultural, spanglish mash-up, spilled-out dictionary of words that fell just right, make your noggin go tight with a homegrown cool mint light that I like."

(Edited by Lesley Téllez for the Dallas Morning News)

To see the article at the DMN site, click on this link.

MONDAY REHEARSAL: August 13th - 6pm - ESA, KEN SABE, WISE CRACKER **ONLY**!!

Because I am asking the GIRLS (Molly, Natalia, Dominique, Maria, Jennet, Andrea) to meet w/ me tomorrow, SUNDAY, AUGUST 12th, I am not going to ask them all to the MONDAY REHEARSAL/GATHERING.

Instead, I will do some focused rehearsal work with KEN SABE (Richard), ESA, and WISE CRACKER (Jacob) on MONDAY, AUGUST 13th. 6pm. My home.

ESA, your guitar is @ my place. Please bring bicycles.

Questions? Post a comment down below or phone me. Email at tammygomexican@yahoo.com is also good.


Thanks.

RESCHEDULED VIDEO SHOOT: Friday, August 17th--Ramsey, Dominique, Juana & Jasmine, and others

PLEASE let me know if you guys (Ramsey, Dominique, any extras) can make it for a video shoot (all Fort Worth locations within 1-5 miles of my home) on FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th---daylight hours.

_____________ the message/update i set to Juana tonight _____________

up late, working at home on a saturday night:

hi, Juana:

i forgot to give you my number so you'll have it again.

Cesar--our videographer--just told me this evening that he has to work next Saturday, August 18th--all day.

Sorry, but he just told me this. Arggggh.

So----we have now to reschedule our next video shoot. Would you (and Jasmine) be able to work with us on Friday--this coming Friday, August 17th, sometime during the daylight hours?

Thanks for your patience w/ us.

Call or email me soon about your availability next Friday for about 2.5 hours of work.

gracias,

Tammy

Compliments from Juana, who plays YOUNGER MAMA in our videos

I had no idea that Juana--the actor who portrayed MAMA the younger in our "flashback" videos--was actually in our audience at the Undermain. She just emailed me the following message a few days ago:


Wed, 8 Aug 2007 12:05:

"Hey Tammy, How's it goin?.. Well i didn't get to talk to u after the show.. i wanted to tell you, i thought it was AWESOME!!!..My fam and friends loved it.."

Concept album about bikes

Opalina sent me a message yesterday, which included the following bike-oriented musical album suggestion. Just fyi.

Date: Aug 10, 2007 9:21 PM

hey have you ever heard the album SMiLE by Brian Wilson? Did you know it's a concept album about a time traveler that flies over the USA on a bicycle? I will make you a copy..


opalina

Yesterday's rehearsal (friday, aug.11)--NEXT girls' rehearsal SUNDAY 6pm @ RMT

Dominique, Natalia, Molly, Jennet, and Maria showed up under the Lancaster bridge in Trinity Park yesterday for about 2 hours of bike choreography work. I was impressed with everyone's enthusiasm and physical input--as it was sweltering outside, even as we were in the shade of the great bridge.

We worked up some movement with bikes to the Eve song "Tambourine", a snappy upbeat track. When Maria showed up, she quickly amped up the energy with her bike dance moves--which were learned by the others.

Natalia graciously offered some input, upon my request. She hadn't been able to bring her bicycle, so she had to switch out with various women so she could have a go at the choreographic combination.

Carlos showed up towards the end of our session to see what the girls had worked up to the tune he'd selected for me to work with.

We set a time for our next GIRLS work-out/rehearsal: Sunday, 6pm, at the Rose Marine Theater.

After the session under the bridge, Carlos and I grabbed a bite to eat before heading to my place so he could watch the performance doc footage from the Undermain show; we discussed the music (new cues, missed cues, additional music & soundtrack possibilities). I am happy that Carlos is offering fresh energy and ideas to help keep the work evolving. I will probably get some new tracks from him before he heads off to San Francisco for a week (starting next Friday).

Carlos also listened to my ideas about the "new" character that I'm developing (under wraps for a few more days). He offered some great input in our impromptu brainstorming session. Much appreciated.

A productive Friday night. Forced myself to go to bed early---2 a.m.

Question about "cake mix" leads to some thinking...

Ramz:

i am so pleased at how much thought you are offering. others (involved with the play) are doing the same, and i totally welcome that.

Carlos--the dj--just spent about 3 hours going over the video with me, focusing on just the music and sound cues. then he helped me through some thought about the ending, the Mama-Esa relationship, whether or not Mama should ever
ride a bike, and more.

as far as the Cake Mix thing: mama is problematic. she is of the generation that equates "quick and easy" with wealth and power, as many folks raised in the post-war (ww2) years ended up doing. this gets heightened with "late-arriving" people of color who aren't that educated but who, like my own mother, have come to have some bit of material wealth, but aren't "educated" about how that wealth can be depleting, diminishing.

a big concept that hasn't received alot of play in contemporary theater, film, etc.

boiling it down: what do we stand to gain (or lose) if we are so caught up with "keeping up with the joneses" that we don't do a critical eval. of WHO the jones' are and WHY we came to value their values.

Mama is one of those confused upwardly-mobile Latina/Hispanics. she can now afford the conveniences of modern life, circa 1970s, 1980s, even as the more educated "elites" know that those conveniences are detrimental to our health, and more
importantly, our planet's health.

in my recent experience, i'm finding that there are younger generations and subcultural communities of people who are embracing "old world" ancient wisdom, lifestyle choices, and cultural traditions that are more sustainable--and similar to
indigenous ways. Oddly enough, alot of our parents scoff at those ways.

anyway, MAMA is caught up in the convenience food, spray-for-everything, way of life she was duped-- in her
educational process/socialization--into thinking was upper-class appropriate.

she WOULD have the mac/cheese box, the boxed cake mix, the processed-chemicalized life, cuz she thinks a woman of her means is supposed to have such things.

it is ESA who is more real. that is why there is such a schism betwn. her and MAMA.

keep thinking, questioning, suggesting. thank you.


T

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Ramz / The Shortest Distance / King BAGEL, via myspace
Date: Aug 10, 2007 5:54 PM


Hey Tammy,

I was thinking, maybe Mama shouldn't be holding instant cake mix - isn't she supposed to eat 'real food'? I don't know what else she'd get in a box from SHOP MART that would be 'real food' but just a thought.

Maybe organic wild rice or something?

ramz

Mel Le Roy is helping us out -- venue search continues

Tammy,

I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the rehearsal today.  A friend of Neil's passed away and we has to attend the funeral this afternoon. 

I'm working on the press release and and receipt form will have them to you soon.  Also, I'm playing phone tag with the Parks Dept. about renting out the pavilion area for the entire day.  I told them it was a spoken word/acoustic music event and that we wouldn't be using the stage.  I also told them attendance would be about 100 people.  The rental fee is due to them along with an application two weeks before the reservation date.   I've had them send the application to my house and will get it to you asap. I'll be sure to let you know the price as soon as I get a live person on the phone.

The old Stage West theater would be great as well but I would make sure that the city has cleared them to use the space for performances. 

Mel

_____

On 8/8/07, Mel Le Roy wrote:

Hi Tammy.  I think this pic should work as letterhead.  You can reach me on  my cell 817-xxx-xxxx. 

I will definitely try to make it by the park Friday afternoon.  I have to work the night shift at my parent's bar so I won't be able to stay too long. 

Mel

______

On 8/8/07, Tammy Gomez < tammygomexican@yahoo.com> wrote:
here it is.

what's the best phone number to reach you by?

THE GIRLS are rehearsing on friday at Trinity Park between 5:30pm and 7:30pm, if you would like to hear/see us.  We'll probably cruise over to a bar afterwards, if you would like to meet us/chat with us.

g'night,
T

___________

hi, Mel:

Sorry about your friend. Yes, funerals and weddings always need to get top priority. Hope Neil is feeling all right.

Sounds like you're having to be ultra-persistent with the City about that pavilion. Hope we can get some positive news soon.

I've been knocking on every possibility for the past 3 days: called Velton (photographer), Christopher (photographer, installation artist), Jesse Hernandez (painter) to ask for suggestions. Getting the word out, big-time, about needing a performance space.

Haven't heard back from Stage West folks, but will follow up on Monday.

Rehearsal today at the park was creative, fun, sweet, and SWEATY. We'll be working again together on Sunday @ 6pm @ the RMT.

Thanks for all you're doing!

peace,

Tammy

Opalina, Dina, Tammy going to see author Julia Alvarez in Dallas (free reading) tomorrow.

To: Opalina

about the rehearsal/gathering you missed:

we watched vid of our Undermain show. have to ask Cesar/Raul if they can make dubs, eventually.

tomorrow, we'll be at the downtown branch of the DPL at or around 2pm. Dina is driving us (me and niece) into Dallas. Maybe we grab a coffee or something too...?

you and Dina (and Dom) will have to schedule some specific focused rehearsals anyway, so it's okay that you must miss next Monday's group rehearsal.

increasing volume and giving you more stylized movements is what i want to focus on for CURANDERA.

tomorrow, you and Dina should pick 2-3 days to meet within the next 2 weeks. when i can also be w/ you.

keep in mind: there's ONE more conversation that CURANDERA AND MAMA have together, which i'm formulating. it happens before ESA's race.

thanks!

p.s. our Austin performance fell through---no money to get us down there, budget was drastically cut by the MACC people. arghhhh. SO, OUR ONE AND ONLY NEXT PERFORMANCE IS THE PREMIERE: september 22nd - saturday, for real and for sure...!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: opalina tlazohtzin
Date: Aug 10, 2007 11:06 AM

I got yr mssg last night, and I would love to meet ya guys on Saturday. Sounds like good times.

I have been working, sorry about missing monday. Some moron scheduled me on monday, and this next upcoming monday, but starting after next week im back to my sunday monday off sched. I just happen to be off this saturday so meeting you guys is a go.

I have some questions about our next performance, I'm almost certain that if it is the weekend of the 1rst I won't be able to do it. In Austin right? Well, I have a performance that was planned many months ago on the 1rst Its the moonlady night at the bathouse cultural center at White Rock Lake. Its in the evening that day and i'm featured as part of the mad swirl traveling circus.

Ive been struggling with this, as i had made a prior commitment, but by being in the play i had also made a commitment to the entire cast and you.

I will have to meditate on this. Nevertheless I really love being a part of this project and I promise I will be available when you need me.

Just get back to me soon, but i plan to meet you at the library.

xxoo
Opalina

my missing bici

Dom had it. I wasn't really worried about it 'til yesterday. Really, I just missed it. It's so cute.

Dom, what do you want to do about picking up the cruiser for our Friday Girl rehearsal? You *could* ride it from my house--it's not that bad of a haul at all. Lemme know, so I can be around to unlock it for you.

Andrea got a new bike from Panther Bikes. I haven't seen it yet.

video shoot - Saturday, August 18th - morning to afternoon

This is gonna be a long day, as Cesar doesn't have alot of free time during the daylight hours when most of you might be available.

Shoot locations:

fish mural bridge -- off of Riverside, near Beach St.
Trinity Park bridges and surrounding area -- near the zoo and University Drive
Oleander Street - just a block or so north of Magnolia St.


What we're shooting (scenes):

Young ESA with teen MAMA (fish mural bridge)
Older ESA with EL SABE (Trinity Park bridge)
Older ESA (grove of trees on west side of University)
Young ESA ("vanishing point" footage on bridge)
Older ESA ("vanishing point" footage on bridge)
anybody and everybody - parade scene

Specific times for each shooting location will be announced soon.
More notes to come.

Thanks for everyone's patience!

mama bike speech - will be up for D to copy for only 2 days

MAMA:

[smiles] Oh boy. I remember walking after school, with my brother, and I think I was pretty old. I musta been like sixteen and I had never--nobody had ever taught me how to ride a bike. So I remember asking him, “Can I walk your bike?” So he lent me his bike, and I started walking it, and I dunno where it came from or how it came to be, but as I walked his bike I got this urge to sit on the seat and I didn’t know how to ride a bike but this urge, to sit on the bike and put my hands on the handlebars, it was like really physical--so here I’m trying to sit on it. But I wasn’t afraid, no tenía miedo and I had this feeling like “Yo puedo hacer esto, I can balance with this bike, and I can really ride this bike!!” So, I don’t know how it happened but just like magic I began riding and it was like the most amazing milagro. I was just moving on the sidewalk and not noticing my feet, not noticing what my body was doing, but I was moving with that bike and I wasn’t fighting it. It was just happening!

So, to me, it seemed like an eternity, to be floating with the bike, but of course, it was only [snaps fingers], you know, un segundito, because, after that, I felt my foot touch ground, to balance me when I stopped. But that was the first time in my entire—en toda mi vida, that I realized, “I’m learning how to ride a bike!!” [shrieks, laughs] And so, you know, I just wanted to feel that, again and again and again. All the way home, I kept trying, otra vez, y otra vez, and I will never forget that feeling like, “I’m doing this by myself.” [shudders with delight] And I’m balancing and it’s such a pleasure--and such a milagro to feel like I’m floating. So, I loved, I LOVED that day. [laughs] It was like the most magical moment. [whispers/exhales deeply] Yeah.

I'm working w/ ESA and MAMA today.

ESA - at 2:30pm to 3:30pm.
MAMA - will pop in at 3:30pm to work some ESA/MAMA scenes, then I'll work on some MAMA stuff (in case ESA has to split, that's cool) after that 'til no later than 4pm.

(I gotta do a birthday thing w/ my sister and niece--both Leos--at 5pm.)

ESA: we'll work on "cake mix monologue" and i'll introduce you to the "hate stop" poem.
MAMA: we'll work on "cake mix dialogue" with ESA and your opening scene (don't forget to ask for the BE YOUR OWN PET song) together. also, want to discuss closing scene w/ you both. afterwards, want to show you what i want to cut from your "bicycle monologue", the visual/movement possibilities for the "big poem", and whatever else comes up.

NOT HAPPENING...... : ( BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE at the MACC in Austin on Sat., September 15th !!

update: august 8 - got word that the invitation is off. hard to hear the staffperson on the phone, need to call her back. phone line's busy. very disappointing, to say the least. which is all i wanna say at the moment..... : (


So, about a week or so ago, I got a call from a guy named Jose Reyes. Told me he was a volunteer coordinator for the MACC (Mexican American Cultural Center), which was about to be officially opened to the public. He wanted to inform me that I have been invited to be one of the 20 or so Latino/Chicano Texas artists who will perform for the "grand opening" on Saturday, September 15th. That's a pretty special honor, so I didn't want to say no. When Jose asked me if I would prefer to do a reading or solo performance, I told him that I am all up in a new project for the stage--an actual theater work with multiple cast members. He said that that would probably be do-able, but he wanted to find out what kind of money the MACC folks could offer and he told me that a contract would be forthcoming by email.

Well, I received another phone call from Dr. Lisa Cortez Walden, who is heading up the performance committee for the grand opening. She called late last week and we proceeded to play several intense rounds of phone tag, 'til she finally reached me by phone this morning. We talked again about money and schedule and our space needs. She was going to put us in a space called "performance studio", but we both figured out it would be too tight a fit for the bikes. Instead, Lisa has us earmarked for a space called the "multipurpose room" and this one seats 200 and is probably gonna be big enough for us to do our thing.

It looks like we'll be performing from 4pm to 4:45pm on Saturday, September 15th, at the MACC.
Contract is coming soon. Hopefully, everything on it will be acceptable to me/us.

I've already confirmed lodging (one night--Friday the 14th) at the home of my ultra-friends Dani and Julia Apodaca.
I've asked Dominique to see whether Carl might be willing to roadie our bikes (via his truck) to Austin.
Looks like the entire cast can make it to Austin, except for Maria and Richard. Haven't heard from Opalina.

For more info on the MACC, go here!

Tentative schedule for the grand opening at the MACC:

11am-1pm ribbon-cutting

Performances btwn. 2pm-6pm

(invited artists include: musics Native American/salsa/rap; continuous film screenings presented by Cine de las Americas;
headliner musician Flaco Jimenez; Teatro Vivo; Conejito Verde (Teatro de la Rosa - from Fort Worth!); the hilarious Latino Comedy Project; visual art curated by Benito Huerta; the San Antonio-based samba dance/music ensemble Urban-15; and actress Rubynelda Perez)

I just realized that I have been chewing my fingernails...time to shut down for the night.

Friday, August 10th - early evening session for "The Girls"

I am meeting with all the bicycle GIRLS on Friday, August 10th. Probably around 5:30pm.

Natalia, Dominique, Molly, Andrea, Jennet, Maria, Ariella (?).

We will gather and practice some of the group chants, sing-songy stuff--with MOVEMENT. I can bring my boombox to the park or wherever. Bikes are needed as well.

Outdoors. (Bring water, dress to sweat comfortably.) Trinity Park (enter across from Botanic Gardens entrance offa University).

Carlos is also invited to come listen in.

doc video viewing + the critical mass bike ride august

We got on the critical mass this evening. by us, i mean cast-members Maria, Dominique, Ramsey, Richard, Cesar, Molly, Natalia. Andrea and Jacob had other commitment so couldn't be with us. New interested person, Janett, Jenet, Parker showed up for the ride and showed up at my house for the viewing of the doc video of our inaugural performance at the Undermain Theatre in Dallas on July 29th.

It was pretty fun to watch the doc video, after all the chaos and the big strug to try to get the audio segment hooked up via various means. I pulled Ramsey and Dominique to my computer to look at Fabian's poster design compositional suggestions, and got some good feedback from both of them.

Much work to do. It is obvious, once you screen the doc vid of our performance, exactly which people need to really pump up the volume. I really didn't need to say anything, though I did offer director's comments during the screening. It is good that folks know and realize what needs to be vocally amped, what needs to be visually tightened. Miguel, Cesar's friend, offered good comments as well.

I asked Dominique to meet with me on Wednesday day.

I asked Richard (Ken Sabe) to commit his major lines to memory, particularly his poem (Bigger Trucks) by this weekend.
He has had that script for at least 3 weeks now, and he should have at least that poem embedded somewhere in his memory.

Natalia knows now to wear a shorter skirt as IDA GONE.
I also think that ESA needs to look a tiny bit more "feminine" than she did in the Undermain show; we'll discuss that on Wednesday.

Dina was the exemplary, stellar example of a performer who was 100% committed to performance of her lines. I think the other performers recognized that she set the bar....

Neither Dina nor Opalina were present for the bike ride tonight nor the doc vid screening. Forgiveable, acceptable, if you ask me.

DALLAS MORNING NEWS photographer shows up tomorrow (morning) at 12noon. I better go to sleep soon; my saggy baggy eyes don't flatter me at all if I don't get adequate sleep.

Blessings to all my cast & crew---hard workers all around...

Particular thanks and kudos to Cesar and Miguel who helped with video taping tonight at the Critical Mass ride on the downtown streets of FW. Molly was a trooper--she's not feeling 100% at this time.

Esa (Dom) and Ken (Richard) were diligent and cooperative doing multiple multiple takes of the "hand-clasping" taping tonight.

I love these people.

heart, big heart