i believe in mr. grieves

I am so freakin’ tired, I can hardly see.
Last night we rehearsed “ACME Love Machine” until almost midnight, and I didn’t fall asleep until around two. We’re having work done on our house, so I was up at 8 enjoying the sound of sawing and breaking glass. If I was eating better and exercising more, six hours would be plenty of sleep . . . but I’ve let myself get overwhelmed with work and travel in the last two months, so it’s been a horrible fast food life. Things should slow down at the end of next week, and I can start putting my body back together. I didn’t realize how much time it takes to exercise daily and prepare my own food . . . I’m going to appreciate it more when I have that kind of time. (And I can start running again. I plan on doing the San Diego marathon again this year, and maybe Los Angeles, too, if I can train in time.)
Tonight, I’m back at ACME for another rehearsal and a complete show tech. I think I’ll be there until at least two. We have a preview show on Saturday, and it’s going to require a lot of focus and professionalism to be ready for that show. Normally, I’d be freaking out about how soon we are taking this show in front of an audience . . . but I’m so excited to perform it, I’m actually anxious to get our funny up on the stage.
Yeah. This is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever been a part of, and I can’t wait to perform it. I’ve done a ton of sketch and improv shows over the years, and I can honestly say this show will rank in the top three best shows of all time.
Most of it is the writing, which is really funny and solid, but the cast is phenomenal. It’s one of those “lightning in a bottle” things, like the cast of TNG, where we all like each other, we all love the show, and the energy backstage is so positive and so supportive, it carries over into the audience. I know there are some other actors and musicians who read WWdN, and I’m sure you’ll back me up on this: when you’re in a show with a cast you love, and when that cast is supportive and enthusiastic about the show and each other, you could do the show for an audience of one and it wouldn’t matter.
Some of us are in EarnestBorg9 together, and many of us went through the ACME school together, so it’s not surprising that we all get on so well, but there’s always a chance that something weird can come up, some stupid personality conflict or something that can happen, but we’re already like a family . . . or maybe a group of inmates who’ve just escaped from an asylum. I’ll bring fruit cups tonight, and see what happens.
Our first show is December 11th, and we run every Saturday at 8 until Christmas, take a break, and then we’re back through all of January and February. Please come out and see us. I promise you’ll like it.

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40 thoughts on “i believe in mr. grieves”

  1. I can relate to the performer and on stage aspect you referred to. Being a band member, on stage in front of 200 of your friends and complete strangers… if the energy isn’t back stage, there is almost no way you can get the energy from the crowd. I loved the feeling of being all hyped up before a show, and even better when the crowd felt it as well.
    I’ll be in the audiance at least a couple times. You can count on that.
    Good luck this weekend Wil!
    -Evin Ritter (the geek in the glasses)

  3. With all this crazy wonderfulness going on in your life (home improvements notwithstanding), don’t forget to have a very merry Thanksgiving!
    And enjoy the turkey coma.

  4. ok… so maybe I should look around a little before posting this, but where is this place? I’m down in oc (not “THE O.C.”), and wouldn’t mind coming up to see it..

  6. Yes… when your group “hits the groove” it is absolutely incredible. I play in a big band (see: http://www.rivercityjazz.org) that’s had a pretty constant staffing for 3 or 4 years. When we have those nights where everything works, it’s magic.
    I’ve volunteered as a leader for a junior high jazz band. Seeing THAT group hit the groove for the Very First Time was amazing. At the end of the chart those kids were quiet, and their eyes were as big as saucers. Cool.
    I tell people that when you are performing with a bunch of people, and you are hitting EVERYTHING right on the head, it’s better than sex… hell, better than ANYTHING.
    GcB

  12. Have a wonderful time on stage. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Sounds like your life is almost as busy as mine. My friends call me super mom. I think I am just enjoying life.

  13. Wil,
    If you *was* eating better and exercising more you would still need 7 – 8 hours sleep. Lack of sleep can ruin anybody’s day.
    Off topic, Spike TV has cancelled reruns of TNG.
    50,000 monkeys are having withdrawal symptoms. A quick email from Wesley might jog their lethargy.
    Thanks so much.
    Freeman 🙂

  14. I was wondering if you were planning on doing another marathon. I would love to do the San Diego one. 🙂
    I really want to do the Portland marathon again, they kinda get you hooked, those marathons. 🙂
    Certainly the healthiest addiction I’ve ever had.
    I can relate to how you are feeling. When you are training it seems like you are so much more in tune with your body and you take much better care of it.
    Sending some training mojo to ya!
    I need to get back on my running schedule too, so thanks for the marathon mention! 🙂

  16. Wow, you’ve been busy! The show sounds awesome… I wish I was closer so I could come. I’m a bit of an amateur actress, so I totally know where you’re coming from. A cast that has chemistry can make a good show into an incredible show. The audience can tell when you’re having fun. So have fun, best of luck, and remember to take care of yourself!

  19. Poor Wil *pat on head*. I’m glad the show’s doing so well though. Fruit cups, bah! Pixy stix are what performers need! Anyway, you can stop reading now and go take a nap.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

  20. First of all, Happy Turkey! Enjoy that much-coveted family time!
    Quite a few performers here, I see. Well, I’ll toss my hat in the ring, too. 10 years in the music business in some form or another, and a whole bunch of different situations later, how we all gel on stage is the most important thing, hands down.
    I’ve seen bands and been in bands where there’s tension, and you just don’t feel like what you’re doing is up to snuff when that happens. But then again, when you’re in with musicians you’re tight with, everything clicks. What you’re creating feels like something special. When that happens, the audience gets their moneys worth and them some.
    Good luck with the show, Wil! You guys are going to kill!

  22. Wow, I can’t imagine running a show for months at at time. The productions I’ve been involved in are usually short runs.
    I was in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” in October and the cast really meshed. We all became so close that it was like an extended family and our cast party was a really emotional affair. There really is nothing like live productions.
    Break a leg Wil.

  23. i’ll take a quiet life
    Have you thought about putting a calendar on your site to let people know where and when you’ll be performing in the future?
    That way those of us who are frequent travelers to LA can come see you without having to search around through past blogs for the dates and times, etc.
    Anyway, have a good holiday!

  24. When I was doing my conservatory show at Second City up here in Toronto, many of the cast didn’t really gel well togethr and there definitely some issues. The show was alright, but nothing spectacular. Since then, I haven’t really had much of a taste for sketch, at least not the way the Deuce does it.
    So, for now, I stick to improv — longform. And it’s awesome that improv is a huge part of your life still. I first found out about you doing improv after meeting Dan O’Connor and Edie at the Chicago Improv Festival a few years ago and Dan had nothing but great things to say about your chops.
    Improv, to me, is like a bug that infects you and takes over your body and life and you don’t really care to find an antidote for. I don’t know if you’re down around IO West or the Hothouse STC at all, but you check those cats out, too. If Robert Dassie and Stephanie Weir are ever doing WeirDass, it’s one of the best improv shows I’ve ever seen. And you can tell Bob that KPR says “What up?”
    Also, if you get the chance you check out the Chicago Improv Festival or the Toronto Intl. Improv Festival some time.
    Keep on makin’ shit up and promoting such a wonderful artform. It’s great to have another voice of another geek on the radar.
    Cheers,
    KPR.

  26. Good luck with the shows. Only sorry I can’t be there as it sounds like it will be great, but I will look forward to reading about it later here.
    “Break a Leg” as they say

  28. Wow! This sounds great, Wil! I have to go. And I was looking for something to do with some friends too. You can count me in!!!
    Scott

  29. Wow! This sounds great, Wil! I have to go. And I was looking for something to do with some friends too. You can count me in!!!
    Scott

  30. Just thru Feb? Damn, I won’t be in town until March!
    On a totally unrelated topic, will you be touching base with Sean Astin when he’s in town for the One Ring Celebration January 14-16?

  31. Wow! This sounds great, Wil! I have to go. And I was looking for something to do with some friends too. You can count me in!!!
    Scott

  32. Wow! This sounds great, Wil! I have to go. And I was looking for something to do with some friends too. You can count me in!!!
    Scott

  33. Wow! This sounds great, Wil! I have to go. And I was looking for something to do with some friends too. You can count me in!!!
    Scott

  34. You know, living in the UK and not having access to the things you guys do, whenever I hear or read the word ACME all I can picture is Wile E Coyote getting something dastardly out of a box he has just received in the mail! That or a scene from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.
    Good luck btw 😉

  36. How far do you run to get in shape to do the marathons?? I don’t think I could ever get a babysitter to really go do one (I exercise when boys are at school & I only get away for New Year’s eve when my parents take them for the night) but I have hopes to try it once – have to be one in Texas
    Which section in the bookstores is you book in? I keep looking for it but I can’t seem to find it. I’m not allow to order off the internet (hubby has heard of people getting extra charges so he doesn’t trust it)
    I been told to not say “good luck” to an actor but to say “break a leg” but please don’t really do that 😉

  37. Break as many legs as humanly possible you funny, funny bunch of people! 😉 Wish I had a reason to come all the way out there! (Yes, seeing the show is a good reason if there was unlimited money to spend.) Have fun! Record it and share it with all the fans!
    cheers!

  38. Question for Freeman in Loiusiana.
    As of when will Spike TV be cancelling the TNG reruns? Even as recently as Wed, the day before Thanksgiving, they were on a schedule of two hours of Deep Space 9 (11 & noon) and two hours of TNG (1 & 2pm).
    Right now, its all about the Bondathon. Are you suggesting that come Monday, there will be no more afternoon TNG????
    Happy Thanksgiving to all concerned.

  39. Hey Wil. Saw the Love Machine Preview Show tonight. It was awesome even though you weren’t able to be there. Hope the neck feels better soon.
    Dan

  40. If you want GEEK or BAREFOOT, just ask your local bookstore to order them. They can look up by author or title in their catalog (for most stores this means their computer) and getthe books in a few days. BAREFOOT took about four days for me, and I live in a fairly isolated small town at the beach. (My son got me a copy of GEEK at a booksigning, so I have an autographed copy, which is tres cool *G*)
    Chris

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