As a roving Spoleto reporter, I've been able to catch a whole bunch of shows and let people know whether they're worth paying for or not (IMHO). Click on the links below to find out what I thought about the following productions.

I saw Harvard Sailing Team at the American Theater. Since they're from New York and they've been suriving the comedy clubs there for years, I thought the sketch comedians would be edgy as well as energetic. But their humor wasn't nasty at all; in fact it was good-natured and quite family friendly.

One of the highlights of the show was when the entire group did a stand up act in unison. For a polar opposite, I saw two one man shows: Rodney Lee Rogers' electrifying The Tragedian at Lance Hall and Marc Bamuthi Joseph's the break/s at the Emmett Robinson Theatre. Both performers are masters of their arts (Rogers, acting; Bamuthi, poetry and movement).

Marc Bamuthi Joseph, giving it some 'tude.

I also caught Under the Lights, ten short plays by ten College of Charleston playwrights at Chapel Theatre. A couple of very strong short plays made the show worth watching.

To lighten up, I also saw Scheer and McBrayer at Theatre 99. Both improv comedians are TV stars (Scheer's on MTV's Human Giant and VH1's Best Week Ever. McBrayers's a regular on 30 Rock). The joint was packed, so I stood to one side of the stage with Theatre 99 performers like Jenny Pringle and Lee Lewis. A good time was had by all.

More reviews (and blogs and photos and podcasts) to come as the festival enters its final week.

Catch you at the Film Fest!

This has been the busiest week of the year so far for me and I’m pooped. I started the week with three acting classes in a row, teaching at the Lowcountry Senior Center (where we’re planning a Shakespeare-themed showcase), South of Broadway in North Charleston and in Pine Forest, Summerville.

On Tuesday I directed a music video for Know When to Walk Away. It will be submitted to a competition created by Zach Braff to build a compilation film to accompany the Jay Clifford song.

The catchy tune will be featured in an upcoming episode of Gray’s Anatomy, so hopefully you’ll be hearing it everywhere soon.

By Wednesday I was working furiously on City Paper previews for Piccolo Spoleto. It gave me a chance to interview several cool creative people, including David Lee Nelson of Skinny White Comics and Chris Smith of the sketch comedy group Harvard Sailing Team. Check out their swanky new website!

I also took my eight-year-old son to baseball practice. It’s great to see him involved in the ultimate American pastime (no, i don’t mean video poker). Sam could be a great player if he ever stops lollygaggin’ on third base.

Thursday night I was a judge at Charleston County School of the Arts’ Spring Playfest. Talented high school-aged kids put on ten minute plays and I assessed their merit in terms of vocal ability, stage presence, believability etc.

Friday I appeared on Lowcountry Live to plug Undead on Arrival. I was the last guest on the local chat show, on after the dog. I think that would make a great title for my memoirs.

Today I’ll be signing copies of the novel at Waldenbooks, then racing to the Charleston International Film Festival to usher in audiences and introduce a couple of the films.

Strangely, despite the fact that I’m a film critic for the CP and I’ve covered the festival in depth, I haven’t been contacted by the organizers (I’ve had to chase them up) and I’ve been given no press pass or invite to the awards ceremony. They must know what a party crashing freeloader I am.

In between all that I’ve been auditioning for film roles, chauffeuring my family hither and yon, and trying to catch some zzzs. Of course, I couldn’t do it all without the support of my friends, colleagues and students. Thanks guys.