Categories
poetry

the insomniac’s plea

angel of sleep
come to me now
though the plow of concern
furrows my brow
though tasks of tomorrow
bite at my brain
though incessant plotting
will not refrain
from making me run
alternative plans
yet again through my head
while the coulds and the cans
fill me with dread

angel of sleep
what will it take?
i took a pill
and i’m still awake
what is the dosage
to shut off my mind
from why-ing and if-ing
and “what will i find?”
from wondering what
i’ve left behind
if i’ll ever nod off
or must be resigned
to this limbo by night
and half-sleep by day?
where is the cure?
what can i pay?

angel of sleep
is it lag of a jet
or a demon of doubt
to whom i’m in debt
which caused restless reclining
while lying in bed
replaying a scene
or something i said
as the hours tick by
the minutes long sped
now lost in the deep
recesses of past?
oh angel of sleep
free me at last

Categories
productions up in the air

UP IN THE AIR cast

i’m happy to announce the extraordinary cast for

UP IN THE AIR:

The Story of Boonah, the Tree-Climbing Frog

which will have its world premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. February 7-10 as part of their Japan Festival …

the project was conceived by director Amon Miyamoto (Pacific Overtures at Studio 54) and is an adaptation of a well-loved story by Mizukami Tsutomu, music by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls, Side Show) and book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) here’s a link to the Kennedy Center website info about the show and to purchase tickets (there are only 4 performances open to the public and 2 of those are already sold out):  http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEvent&event=XIJFC

here’s the cast in alphabetical order (unless otherwise noted, all credits are Broadway):  Jill Abramovitz (Martin Short:  Fame Becomes Me), Stanley Bahorek (Spelling Bee), Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeney Todd), Jonathan Hammond (The Light in the Piazza, national tour), Deborah Lew (Beauty and the Beast), David McDonald (Mamma Mia),  Lillias White (The Life — Tony Award), Michael Leon Wooley (Dreamgirls, film) …

creative staff includes:  Aaron Fischer (musical direction), Sam Davis (orchestrations), Jesse Vargas (vocal arrangements) Darren Lee (choreography), Neil Patel (sets), Don Holder (lighting), Angela Wendt (costumes), Haruka Fujii (percussion), Alan Muraoka (assistant director) and Jason Daunter (stage manager), Telsey & Co. (Rachel Hoffman, Joe Longworth, casting)  Gorgeous Entertainment (Michael Wolk, Kumiko Yoshii) is producing in association with the Kennedy Center …

Categories
news

welcome!

i’m delighted to welcome you to my revised and updated website here at the beginning of 2008 …
 
rix white has done a wonderful job of reworking his original design to take advantage of new technology and make the site more user-friendly …
 
a new feature allows you to submit production details if you’re involved in the presentation of one of my shows …
 
i’ll continue to post a “poem of the month” and hopefully keep those photos and news items coming …
 
so don’t be a stranger!
 
still, bill

Categories
poetry

hug? shake? kiss? double?

Categories
poetry

i assume glorious