
I was told by her rescuers, that this parrot was flirting with me. I believed them until she bit me. Ouch! A love bite?
I haven’t always been formally referred to as an animal communicator or pet psychic. I have always had a deep affinity for and connection with animals, but I used to be more involved with the arts than animals.
For us pet parents, playtime usually means fun activities with our companion animals. For me it does, but it also represents something else in my life. At the liberal arts college that I graduated from, The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, I studied film and video production and the art that came out of the Holocaust, but mostly I focused on Theatre.
I had done acting previously and did some in college. In addition to acting, I fell in love with playwrighting! I also found producing fulfilling and a good outlet for my acquired skill set.
While
I am not directly involved with the production of plays, I am active in the San Diego Theatre scene in another way. I am the Organizer of the San Diego Theatre and Performing Arts Meetup group and have been since 2012. I network with local theatres and get discount tickets for my group. I am privileged to get to see a lot of diverse performances in San Diego County.
Last night I saw “Kingdom City” at the La Jolla Playhouse. I really enjoyed it! It was engaging, interesting, well acted and funny! As an audience member I felt I was participating and brought into the show. What an awesome quality for a show to have! It just finished it’s preview week so you still have time to go see it!! Me and my group go to just about every show at the La Jolla Playhouse. Regardless of your genre preference, they are always well produced shows. A variety of genres and approaches with something for everyone ranging from family friendly presentations to thought provoking, envelope pushing creativity. Yes. Even in La Jolla things can get a bit edgy at times! Some favorites to mention include, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”, “Blood and Gifts”, “The Second City” touring improv troupe, the uber talented improv troupe, “Kamchatka” and “The Car Plays” from their innovative “Without Walls” (WOW) festival. They also present their DNA Series, which helps new works in their development process. Next up with them is “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in November and then “The Second City” funny people are coming back and we are going in December.
After last night’s performance, my group and I will next be going to “Kinky Boots” at Civic Theatre with Broadway San Diego. The music is by Cyndi Lauper, so you know it’s going to be a fun show! It won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2013. We have seen other entertaining, well produced musicals with Broadway San Diego. They bring excellent touring productions to our area to make any musical fan happy!
We
also often attend plays with the Cygnet Theatre Company. They perform in Old Town San Diego and present a variety of shows throughout the year. Extremely diverse shows with everything from light hearted musicals, like “Pageant” that we recently saw to edgy, brave pieces that may be more likely to feel at home in New York, LA or Seattle. I love that about them! One of my favorites was “The MotherF***er with the Hat.” I actually saw that one twice! Laugh out loud funny, raw and real with an authentic edge. Last year we went to their annual production of “The Christmas Carol” and I plan on bringing the group again this year. An awesome show!
My
latest theatrical obsession, which I have nicknamed my newest “hobby” is the “I can’t believe I just went to their first show last month” Diversionary Theatre in North Park. I have been over the top impressed by them and floored by both shows I have seen there; “bare: a pop opera” and “Regrets Only”, which was one of the funniest plays I have ever seen. If it is still running when you read this, go see it! Please!!! Some of my favorite lines ever are in that play. It is smart and fun with great acting and stellar comic timing by the cast. I hope to go to as many of their shows as I can! Starting with their upcoming free performance, ” Stop Kiss.”
We have also attended shows at The Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park, the San Diego Symphony and others, including stand up comedy shows and community theatre. It is free to join my group and you can find us at http://www.Meetup.com/san-diego-theatre.
I do get extra excited when a play includes an animal character, whether played by a human such as in last year’s, “Waiting” which brought me to tears and was part of “The Car Plays” at La Jolla Playhouse or a real animal actor, such as the beautiful Golden Retriever, Parker (Parker Pup on Facebook).
Tonight though, it will just be me and my dog, Rock playing ourselves on our evening walk. 😉