James Barbour

Praying Small

2009-10-21T14:55:00.004-04:00

PRAYING SMALL

So my dear friend Clifford Morts is a gifted playwright and actor working in Chicago. I had the opportunity to share the stage with him years ago and learned a great deal from watching his work.

He's penned a play called Praying Small which ran in Chicago to great acclaim and now it's being presented in New York City at The Sonnet Theatre in The Producers Club.

It's a pretty powerful piece. If you're in town please try to catch it. Here's the info.

PRAYING SMALL

By Clifford Morts

Directed by Becky Burkhard

Opening Night

Friday, November 13th 8pm

The Sonnet Theatre in The Producers Club

358 West 44th Street, NYC (corner of 44th and 9th)

212-769-7973 Reservations

"Praying Small is a masterpiece..."

ChicagoCritics Online

"...full of truth and honesty..."

The Chicago Tribune

"CRITICS CHOICE"

The Chicago Reader

"An astonishing piece of writing...brutal in its honesty..."

Theatreworld Magazine

Some info about the piece:

Sam Dean is a hyper-literate, highly successful, white-collar, New
York yuppie that’s got the world on a string and sits on a rainbow.
His six-figure job keeps his lifestyle well-heeled. His best friend,
Roman, carouses the bars and clubs of New York with him nightly.
Eventually, he meets his beautiful wife-to-be, Susan, and embarks
on a magical and profound love affair. Life is good.

From these promising beginnings, Praying Small unveils, in non-linear fashion, a life brought low by the “phenomenon of craving.” A life seemingly well-examined unravels through the unchecked appetites of a man afflicted with the disease of addiction. Job, home, loved ones, friends, wife and self-respect all predictably and senselessly destroyed. Sam Dean, a man of no small intellect, falls victim to the tragicomedy of substance abuse and then digs deep inside himself and, through the help of his altruistic AA sponsor, Greg, takes his first tentative and fragile steps back into the land of the living. A land of choices.

Along the way we see his dysfunctional childhood with his worshipping mother and his emotionally and physically abusive father, his shallow and co-dependently nihilistic relationship with Roman (who, unlike Sam, never escapes the clutches of alcoholism), his passionate and doomed fairy-tale romance with the love of his life, the humiliating loss of his downtown, “trophy” job, his final “bottom” as he finds himself in jail and at the mercy of “New York’s Finest”, his anguished first year of sobriety where life-threatening pitfalls lie everywhere, and finally, his acceptance and surrender to a God of his understanding as he realizes, mercifully, he is not alone.

Praying Small is the story of one man wracked with the disease of addiction – one good man with the desire to change. The bottom line is this: recovery is for people who want it, not necessarily for people who need it. This is a play about a man who wants it. This is a play about the splendor of redemption and the catharsis of forgiveness.

This is a play about the power of change.

TheaterMania article about the Chicago Run and an interview with Clifford Morts.

Click Here

Broadway Cares

2009-10-11T14:31:00.003-04:00

I've also got a couple of ideas to help out Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. This has always been an organization that has been important to me.

And as some of you may know, I'm on the Artist Committee of The Actors Fund (www.actorsfund.org)

So the over reaching goals of these organizations are always in my mind. I think the ideas I have will be kind of fun and also be helpful in raising not only awareness but funds for a great cause. I'll write more about this idea as I flesh them out.

Keep you're eyes peeled. The weather is getting cooler, the holidays are fast approaching...and I'm getting in a singing mood!

Album vs Single

2009-10-05T02:02:00.003-04:00

So here's a question I've been toying with for a while.

When people download music do they usually download and entire album or just a single from that album?

Obviously if you buy the CD in a store you get the entire thing but with the advent of digital music downloads that option is no longer the only option.

What about the idea of releasing a single in anticipation of the entire CD coming out at a later date. I mean heck, most radio station only play one song from a full CD anyhow.

Thoughts?

American Patriot Awards

2009-09-30T23:51:00.011-04:00

So I was asked to participate in the Navy League's American Patriot Awards this year.

One of the main reasons is that my father-in-law, Lt. General, Hank C. Stackpole, US Marine Corps (retired) was one of the recipients along with our family friend Jim Nabors. It was an incredible evening with some amazing people in attendance.

The former Governor of Hawaii, Ben Cayetano , was there and spoke on behalf of Jim.

And seated at our table was Captain Gerald Coffee, US Navy (retired) who was a prisoner of war for 7 years at the Hanoi Hilton (2 of those 7 years in solitary confinement).

Captain Coffee spoke for my father-in-law.

Captain Coffee has written a book about his ordeal called Beyond Survival which is an incredible story.

And my father-in-laws story would in itself carry tombs of writing. His own survival in the face of death...quite literally coming back from the brink gives me pause to be thankful.

Had he gone my daughter would never have seen either of her grandfathers. And since my own father has passed in 1999, I am eternally grateful to the fortitude of the human spirit and to those men who saved Hanks life on those fields in Vietnam so many years ago.

I was humbled to say the least by the magnitude of the individuals in attendance. Being around such people who have incredibly diverse backgrounds is not only educational but reminds me of why service is so important to me. To give back...or more simply put...to give.

From left to right Lt. Gen. Hank C. Stackpole, my incredible wife Dana, Captain Gerald Coffee, my mother-in-law, Vivien Stackpole, Me (James Barbour) , Susan Page Coffee.

New Site

2009-09-16T22:50:00.003-04:00

So I've finally updated most of my site. We've still got some work to do on it.

We're going to add some photos and a bit of music, change some things around here and there but it's up and running.

Take a look, sign up for updates (which will be coming soon) and let us know your thoughts.

www.jamesbarbour.com

"My Big Fat" Friends and Colleagues

2009-09-10T14:59:00.005-04:00

My dear friend Joel Zwick (director of My Big Fat Greek Wedding) has a new musical he's working on and will be directing as well once it's complete. It's a fun take off on an old story. I've been helping him with it a bit and enjoying the process. I'll tell you the title later on.

Aside from being one of the most prolific directors of Television, Joel also directed Hershey Felder's "George Gershwin Alone" and Hershey's subsequent projects not to mention the show that Hershey and I did together "Back From Broadway."

Here's a link to his amazing body of work at IMDB.com: Joel Zwick

I'm so very grateful to have people like Hershey and Joel in my life. Not only are they amazingly talented but they also have two of the biggest hearts in this biz. I've learned a great deal from both of them not only in our collaborations and but also from simply from watching them work their magic one their own onstage and off.

When I've spoken to young actors about taking class or studying a particular "acting style" I always say that nothing beats practical experience. You can read all you want but until you get up and try it out you won't know viscerally what works and what doesn't.

That's what's amazing about watching Hershey work. He's fearless when it comes to the choices he makes but he's also incredibly analytical about making and implementing changes to his work. I think he quite literally can feel the audience response (as most of us do in onstage) but he's in a unique position to make the changes necessary to his script that only a writer/performer can be in. Then of course there is Joel, standing objectively back and advising whether or not those changes are warranted.

To me I look at their relationship with envy. It's rare these days that you have a team working together seamlessly to create project after project. It's almost like a rep company of two.

Anyway...I'm glad to call them both friends and colleagues and look forward to many future adventures.

Poker, Runway, Babies and Bubble Wrap.

2009-09-03T02:07:00.005-04:00

OK so how many of you parents out there look at the clock and notice that hours go by and you didn't even realize it. Well...I do.

Hence the fact that I have yet to watch any of the Tivoed Poker or Runway shows...heck I haven't seen any TV (OK maybe a little preseason football with my father-in-law) but other than that...nothing. And thus have not begun my compare and contrast of the aforementioned television shows.

So in lieu of that I give you the crawling, cruising, standing, almost walking but not really... highlights of following a one year old around the house.

I want to invent clothing made of bubble wrap just in case...a little hat with the face and ears open but everywhere else...bubble wrap. Pink for girls, blue for boys. We can even make the individual bubbles different colors or even fill them with some sort of colorful soft material and accessorize with bubble purses or bubble baseball caps.

I digress.

Everyone tells us...don't worry...she'll be fine, kids are resilient but I don't want that theory tested. I'm like this hovering helicopter following her around with outstretched hands just in case she flops over. She never does...kids are pretty smart but heck...I'm a dad...and dads look out for their little ones.

I was going through some old boxes as we consolidate our "things" better known as "junk we haven't used in 10 years to take to Goodwill" and found old birthday cards my mother had saved from my first birthday...YEARS AGO. I found them just a few days before our baby girls first birthday last week (which I must say was quite a fun day).

Anyway, as I looked through those cards my mother had saved it brought back a rush of memories of my parents who sadly did not live to to see our beautiful child born. But in those cards and the other memories I have of my childhood and parents, my daughter will get to know them in their absence.

So...I cherish every single second I have with this amazing little creature who laughs constantly just out of the blue. This little one who only months ago couldn't lift her own head now has a vocabulary of over 20 words and a sense of humor that would rival even Nick Wyman's. (I'm doomed).

Here's to laughter and language and humor and love. And...bubble wrap.

Project Runway vs The World Series of Poker

2009-08-24T01:28:00.007-04:00

Over the next few weeks I'm going to compare and contrast two of my favorite shows...Project Runway and The World Series Of Poker.

A frivolous yet fun adventure that will ultimately amount to very little except the passing of time in a hopefully enjoyable way.

I have no idea how this will turn out...heck I have no idea where I'm even going to start but I'm doing it anyway.

I'm might consult a couple of friends like Sammy The Dentist (see the link below) and even take suggestions from you guys out there...so write in and let me know your thoughts.

www.sammythedentist.net

Soup Kitchen Inc.

2009-08-13T20:39:00.006-04:00

So I was spending some time the other day with a good friend who has an amazing company called Soup Kitchen Inc. I asked him what he was up to lately and he said;

"I'm trying to stop world hunger."

To elaborate, Jamie Klein is a chef and most recently an entrepreneur. He's worked on some major movies (some of my favorites) and as he says in his website bio, the most memorable meals he's made are the ones he's given away.

Basically for every portion of soup that is sold (and they are yummy soups) Soup Kitchen donates an equal portion to someone in need through local and regional food banks. It's not money...it's actual food.

I urge you to take a look at the website and see what you can do to help.

I've work my entire life for various charitable organizations from trying to put an end to Human Trafficking at events with LA Sheriff Lee Baca, to becoming a member of the Artists Committee for The Actor's Fund, to Red Cross fund raising with "Sing In For America" with Hershey Felder after 9/11 and more. The list goes on so I won't bore you...I enjoy giving, I enjoy trying to make a difference even if in my own little way.

I am humbled by the efforts of someone like Jamie who has committed his life and work to this cause. It made me reevaluate my place in life. On my way home I began to think, what more can I do? What can WE do?

I have a roof over my head, and amazing family, a terrific career and incredible friends...it's time for me to give even more. So thank you Jamie for the inspiration.

So come on folks...log onto the site and buy some soup. You won't just be feeding your body, you'll be feeding your soul...and most importantly the belly of someone you might not even know.

Soup Kitchen Inc.

Jelly beans

2009-07-23T00:33:00.005-04:00

So I have this things with Jelly Beans. I LOVE them. I think it was because my mom always used to put them in our Easter baskets as kids. (I'm not however, a fan of those yellow marshmallow chick things).

The issue is that I have not been able to find regular, old fashioned Jelly Beans anywhere. I've seen the Jelly Bellys, Gourmet Jelly Beans and those Harry Potter Jellies that taste like odd things. What happened to just plain old Jelly Beans?

And here's the other thing, those Gourmet Jellys are seriously small! I need the entire bag to equal one regular sized Jelly Bean and I don't want to eat a Root Beer Jelly Bean.

I think that's the marketing ploy. If they're small and have an "exotic" taste then they must be really expensive. Hence..."gourmet."

For me...I'll take Yellow, Orange, Red etc.! Orange was my favorite (and remember those Orange Slices!) I used to separate out the white and black beans when I was a kid. I wasn't a licorice fan as a kid...now I'll take them ALL! Mmmmm!

OK now that I'm off my soap box, let's talk about Health Care. Might be novel for everyone to have coverage huh? I say put a Jelly Bean clause in the reform package!

Tale CD

2009-06-29T16:13:00.005-04:00

So I wanted to do a little update on the Tale experience over in the UK. It was truly amazing.

We rehearsed the "staged" version of the show or about a week. The filmed version of the show was created for Public television and will be aired as part of their pledge drive much like the Three Tenors or the Les Mis thing years ago.

So we had to re-stage the show with the television set and the new cast members. I have to take my hat off to those guys, they had a little a very short time to learn a great deal of material.

Here's a pic of the outside of the Theatre Royal Brighton where we filmed the show for DVD. A beautiful jewel box of a theatre with rich history.

And also during the rehearsal time for the staging we also began to record the CD. I would more call it the International Cast of A Tale Of Two Cities. Here's a photo of the recording studio SPHERE. I can't tell you how many superstars have graced the halls of this studio. There are Platinum records hanging all over the walls.

That's the great Mike Reed in the studio conducting.

So...the CD was recorded and will be released (from what I understand) when the DVD of the show is released in December. Great Christmas presents huh?!

Brighton by the sea, TALE and Hofstra

2009-06-21T19:02:00.002-04:00

OK so some updates.

I've been so busy over here that I've not really had the time to write a blog...so here it goes.

We've finished recording the CD of Tale and I think it's going to be great. It was three days of massive sessions to get this thing done.

We all traveled to Brighton today to begin serious work on the DVD. This is going to be the interesting thing. We've had to change a bit to make it fit into the format that works best for TV but I think this version will be pretty stellar.

Michael York has come on board to narrate certain sections and there is a little surprise at the end as well. No...Sydney does not get the girl...but it's a cool surprise none-the-less.

The UK cast is pretty great. Simon Thomas is playing Darnay. He was last seen on the West End in "Marguerite." And the great Nigel Richards is playing Stryver.

Brighton, for me, is a breath of fresh air. I spent my summers by the sea and to me, there is nothing like it. It's a great town with a rich history and a wealth of flavors. I'll be inside most of the time we're here but it's still nice to breathe in that fresh air.

One nice thing is that Dana and the baby made the trip with me as well. They spend time seeing friends and family while I spend time whacking away at the script and score.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sing this music once more.

And please, don't forget that I have that concert next Saturday night. It's going to be a whirlwind of travel for me I can tell you that.

The concert is a benefit and there is a little reception afterwards so please...come on by and send your friends!

Theo Bikel and Carnegie Hall

2009-06-11T14:49:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone....the amazing Theo Bikel is doing a benefit concert on Monday.

I'm helping to spread the word.

It's for a good cause and with a truly remarkable man and other guests.

Take a peek at the info below.

Theodore Bikel: The First 85 Years!

A Benefit Concert for Juvenile Law Center

Join us as friends and colleagues celebrate Theo’s 85^th birthday at Carnegie Hall!

Monday, June 15

7:30pm

Carnegie Hall

**** All tickets now 20% off with discount code: FOTB8155 ****

Click here for tickets: HERE

The French Open

2009-06-07T11:11:00.003-04:00

There is nothing like tennis. I've been playing this game since I was incredibly young and have found it not only a great sport but a tremendous meditative activity.

I know...people might say "meditative are you kidding?" But I'm not. It's a sport where you are alone on the court with another player and during the game you often battle yourself as well as your opponent. So, meditative in the sense that one often has to reach a sense of calm in order to play at your best.

My cousin achieved great success in this game and there are times when I wish I had pursued it as my career. How different things would have been.

So congratulations to Roger Federer on a great day, a great win. Long overdue but well deserved. He has tied Pete Sampras for 14 Grad Slam titles and if you ask me...will surpass him. (And he's a nice guy to boot).

Here's his site: Roger

Concert Stuff and Grand Tour

2009-05-29T23:43:00.003-04:00

We had our opening of The Grand Tour tonight at The York. We had a blast.

We got the script on Monday and had our first audience tonight. Talk about being shot out of a cannon...literally as there is a scene where that happens in the show.

Come down and see it, we've got 4 shows left this weekend. You'll have a load of fun.

Grand Tour Tickets

My concert on June 27th will be a mix of many different songs. A mix of some of the LOVE SONGS concert, the Broadway stuff from THE HOLIDAY CONCERT and a few more that have yet to be heard.

Tickets go on sale on June 2nd. It's not that far away. For those of you who live in the city, you can take the Long Island Railroad right into Hempstead and it's only a couple of minutes from there. Do a MapQuest...it's easy.

Concert On Long Island

2009-05-27T00:19:00.003-04:00

So much to tell...so much happening.

One thing at a time.

I'll be doing a concert on Long Island June 27th. It will be on the campus of Hofstra University and will benefit the Graduate Admissions Scholarship Program. (It's my alma mater).

Come and join us. There will be a party afterwards...details to follow.

Love, Life and The Continental Congress

2009-05-21T17:34:00.003-04:00

What a run we had out there at Paper Mill. Great cast, great times, great book...great googlie mooglie.

I truly enjoy 1776. As I said before, I think it's one of the best written books of a musical that I've done. It's more of a play with music in my mind. It's an ensemble show which really allows interaction and freedom to learn from each other on an ongoing basis.

The good news is that I actually have a coupe of days off before I have to start work again. I've been crazy with work and the awards stuff. And what fun was that?! Hanging out with great actors...great people.

I got to spend some time with Jeremy Irons, we hadn't really seen each other since The Bowl...other than passing each other on the street and waving. It was good to see him.

So..beautiful days to spend with the dogs. Prepping some marketing materials for some upcoming gigs and getting ready for the next project.

Tuesday's Thought

2009-05-12T18:08:00.004-04:00

There was a great meditation teacher I was told about years ago who, as he sat on the grass in front of his students, began to laugh wholeheartedly. He leaned to his side, pointed to the grass and said with a grin..."they say it's green."

There is a passage by Henry David Thoreau from his "Walden" that I find quite moving.

"To anticipate, not the sunrise and the dawn merely, but, if possible, Nature herself! How many mornings, summer and winter, before yet any neighbor was stirring about his business, have I been about mine! No doubt, many of my townsmen have met me returning from this enterprise, farmers starting for Boston in the twilight, or woodchoppers going to their work. It is true, I never assisted the sun materially in his rising, but, doubt not, it was of the last importance only to be present at it."

Remember that the grass is green, the sun is shining and that the simplicities of life are to me, the important things. To be present in life itself.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T11:22:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there.

It's our first Mother's Day in our new family. The baby is already 8 months old. Amazing to think that so much has happened since she was born. We're so very blessed.

I can't tell you how much I miss my own mother. On days like today it's especially poignant. Although I know that both she and my father are "looking down" at what's going on I wish they could have been here for the baby's birth and meet her in person.

I urge those of you who still have your mother's here to cherish this time. I would give anything to have one more day to share, to talk, to laugh. It is a special day for very special people in our lives...celebrate them.

Happy Mother's Day.

Friday Nights Lights

2009-05-08T16:08:00.002-04:00

Heading into the big weekend of shows. This was an exhausting week as we had an 11 am matinee this past Wednesday.

Crazy tired but fulfilling ultimately. It's a great show with an incredible book.

We've got another one tonight four over the weekend. By the by, Broadway's Leading Men is this Monday night and I'm singing. Swing by for some great music and a ton o' fun!

Rainy Dog Days

2009-05-04T10:04:00.004-04:00

Rain today. Always a trick with the dogs. No matter how careful we are they always seem to come back covered in mud. But that's their job I guess.

My older pup always wants to walk in the puddles. In fact he steers himself directly toward them. He is a water dog after all.

So on rainy days...it's cleaning time. Not just the dogs but the home.

Two Shows

2009-04-30T10:36:00.002-04:00

Two shows on a Thursday....interesting schedule.

The stage of the Paper Mill set is on a rake, which means that it's angled toward the audience. At first glance it doesn't seem to be that bog of a deal. But walking on it over and over and over can wreak havoc on your body.

You are basically walking, standing and sitting on a slope for almost three hours a day (sometimes twice a day). Long story short...it kills my back but I'm a big proponent of stretching so it sort of offsets any physical anomalies.

I am pleased that we have such a strong group. One advantage to sitting onstage during the show is that I get to watch everyones performances. It's sort of like when we did Assassins. I sat in awe some nights watching the performances of Denis O'Hare, Michael Cerveris and the rest of gang. Same goes with this show. It's like I'm going to school everyday, learning new things.

New Concert

2009-04-29T16:01:00.004-04:00

Wow...crazy weekend. Very busy with no day off yet again...but what would life be without work?

Monday night was the Feinstein's Actor's Fund Benefit show. That was a load of fun and a nice room.

Tuesday night was the benefit for our dear friend Rebecca who is battling Hodgkins. We had a great night filled with hope and joy. I am confident that she will come through this. She has the support of friends and family and we're a BIG family.

June 27th I'll be doing a concert on the campus of Hofstra University. It's a great venue and it's going to be an incredible evening. I'll get more details out there as the date draws closer but put this down as a "save the date."

Feinstein's

2009-04-24T19:12:00.003-04:00

So I'm gearing up for the Monday night concert at Feinstein's. It's gonna be a ton o' fun.

The show sched for 1776 has been a bit daunting hence my lack of posts these past few days. But that said...I'm getting back to it.

Here's a story about Monday nights concert on Broadway World.com. Take a peek.

BroadwayWorld Story

There will also be a discount code going out Saturday to all of those who signed up for the newsletter. Again, all proceeds got to The Actor's Fund and it's all tax deductible!

Opening Night

2009-04-19T16:31:00.003-04:00

Odd to have an opening night following a Sunday matinee.

I've never done it like this before. The cast is incredibly tired but committed as all get out...I can't tell you how many times we've run the show in the past few days, in addition to the actual performances that is.

We've been rehearsing every day and doing the shows at night. But the schedule at Paper Mill is quite daunting. We have one show Wednesday, two shows Thursday, one on Friday and then two Saturday and two Sunday. It's a tough one.

We're all looking forward to a day off...I unfortunately am having my windows changed and will be up bright and early at 6 am making sure the dogs don't eat the plaster. Ah the joys of a life in the theatre.

We're ready for the opening however and happy to see it just a couple hours away.