City Daily Photo Theme Day - Music

Had to do a bit of dumpster diving to find something for this theme day. This is my ticket stub from The Beatles second concert at the old Shea Stadium in New York, August 23, 1966. My sister and I went. The stadium was just a few stops down the Number 7 train line in Queens, where we lived. It would have been just before the start of my senior year of high school.

I remember some things about it. Mary Beth and I arrived early. The stands were already full of mostly 12 and 13 year old girls, screaming non-stop at the top of their lungs. Nothing was happening yet. And then there were the Beatles themselves on a stage behind second base. Couldn't see them very well but I remember the singing: yeah, yeah, yeah.    

Market Street, Rain, Red Over Green

One of those through-your-wet-windshield shots. I've got some more AYPO pix I could post but that may be getting old.  Unlike much of the northern hemisphere, it's been cool and wet here for a few days, very unusual for this time of year. It won't last, though.

Looking forward to getting some fresh material. I've been pretty slowed down by some significant low back arthritis. Got a steroid shot a few days ago and what a change. Looking forward to Kansas City and deep Kansas this weekend. 

Madeleine Monday - Fishing Derby

A couple we know have a country house in the countryside outside of St. Louis. It's were we went to see the solar eclipse last year. There is a big pond, access to the Meramec River, big fields and ATVs. They host an annual summer party with lots of activities for children.

Mrs. C, Emily and Ellie attended. (I was stuck in the office writing the materials for a talk I'm giving at an upcoming legal conference.) There was a fishing derby for the little ones and guess who won the prize for the biggest fish? It was all of 7 inches / 18 cm long but my was she proud. It's an activity I could not have helped her with. You wouldn't want to eat anything you caught in the waters where I grew up.

At some point several of the children were in the pond playing shark. You can see who took on the roll of Jaws.      

Brave Audiences Of The St. Louis Fringe

The title of this post is one of slogans or marketing phrases of the Fringe. You need a taste for artistic adventure to soak up all the festival has to offer (see last year's photos). The audience at Act Your Pants Off was a little out there. You could even braid glow sticks into your hair.

We have not seen much of the impresario of all these events, Matthew Kerns. In the last picture, he explains the AYPO concept and reminds everyone that tickets for the main festival are now on sale.      

We Didn't Get The Eclipse In North America

But we did get this. Rise of the mid-summer full moon, Webster Groves, Missouri, 27 July 2018, about 8:50 PM.

The Cast: Keeton Treece

Moving through the show. Keeton Treece is another long tome figure on the STL theater scene (see http://bit.ly/2LIHps0 or http://bit.ly/2NKa3GA) . Sometimes he can be a bit over the top. Now, I'm at a bit of a disadvantage when shooting a performance because my attention is on images, not the whole show. Still, Treece's bit at AYPO seemed incoherent. That was quite possibly intentional.       

Just A Singer: Alicia Like

For a few golden minutes, AYPO set aside preening actors and timid gestures toward striptease. giving us only gorgeous music. Alicia Like is a brilliant local talent. I just don't understand why she's not all over TV and the web. You can see the emotive power in her face and almost feel the power of her voice. As best I can figure out, she will be performing in The Gringo, a musical at this year's Fringe festival. I'm going.

Remember, Fringe tickets are now on sale at http://bit.ly/2OgtfNe .                   

The Chanp

FIRST THINGS FIRST -  tickets for the 2018 St. Lou Fringe are now on sale. Go to http://bit.ly/2pfYgnr and buy, buy, buy!       

So anyway, the winner of Act Your Pants Off by audience acclaim was Melissa Allen. Steamy, bursting with energy and, well, not at all shy. It was AYPO, after all, and she was one of the few performers who removed more than shoes and socks. She is also an aerial artist and will be performing at the festival next month.

The Cast: Paul Cereghino

One of the major actors on the STL scene, Paul Cereghino provided the demo for how the AYPO concept works: recitation, memory lapse, ask for help, get help, take off clothing. I think he borrowed one of Lola van Ella's accessories..            

Declyne of Civilization

The other MC, judge and general disruptor at Act Your Pants Off was Desire' Declyne.  I once heard her give a full-blown performance of the finale of Hello Dolly at one of these shows and it was a mind blower.  Here, she takes an audience member into her ample busom in what seems to be some kind of blessing. (Wait, now - are she and her the right pronouns?) She strikes a pose and has a good laugh with Lola van Ella. It is impossible to say which of the two has the greater stage presence.            

Let Me Entertain You

A bit more Lola van Ella from Act Your Pants Off. At one moment she looks like the goddess of spring, the next the provocative mistress of ceremonies with the whole cast. How does she just turn on a smile like that?              

The One, The Only . . .

Lola van Ella, St. Louis' favorite ecdysiast, She sings. she dances, she's funny and she has a perfect sense of timing. And she can curl your toes. There's not a lot of fabric left when she finishes her act, but, you know, that's how she makes her living so if you want the full view you will have to attend one of her shows. And if you would like to learn how to do it, sign up for one of her classes.You'll never regret it.

A bit more of this tomorrow, I think.