It’s been a good week for me in the “art is important” and “you’re not a shit for brains for pursing something you love” department.  My theater company, The New Colony, was just announced the recipient for the 2011 Emerging Theater Award.

It’s great press, some funds, and wonderful advertising support for our upcoming performances. We’re leaking glitter everywhere. A special thank you to Broadway In Chicago, the League of Chicago Theatres, their members and our community and major props to our friends at 16th Street Theater, Theatre Seven, Theater Wit and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.

And with the closing of one show, we begin another immediately.

That Sordid Little Story opens on July 8th at The Viaduct Theater.  I’ll be a part of the live band, writing some good old-fashioned folky tunes.

We had a showcase of some songs n’ scenes we’ve been workshopping over the past three weeks at the Chicago Cultural Center last night.  I’m addicted to this dang ditty.  Take a look and listen:

My theater company is just about to embark on our second season with the show “Calls to Blood” opening on October 12th. And with the prospects of some of our first season shows being remounted in Chicago or New York, we’re doing a little bit of horn tooting.

Do me a favor, take a quick read of our first season wrap up newsletter.

I’ll be writing some of the music for the summer musical. You better believe there will be three part harmonies, banjos, autoharps and mandolins.