Glenn's Ruminations

Training Again

 

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

 

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

My Youngest Brother Frank and Brooklyn

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

Gertrude Scott

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

Miss Brooklyn Marie Scott

 

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

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

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

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

Odd angle of RENT's standing ovation curtain call.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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


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

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

Glenn Shadix & Blaine Johnston

 

Blaine Johnston is a new friend and neighbor.  He's an entertainment attorney who spends about 80% of his time in New York but somehow finds time to be the President of our tenants association!  Obvious multi-tasker here.
 
My manager sent me a feature script by Susan Oliver that I have fallen in love with---I shall say no more.   Gives me something to do during writing breaks.....
 
Love this shot as I wait for the ferry before leaving P Town.  DIG those specs!  SEE THE NEW BIO TALE!

 

Waiting to board the ferry as I left Provincetown.

 

Love to all and have a restful Sunday.