First What, then Who

Greetings Gossip Lovers,

So, here's a fun one for you. Who are they; the baby and the center figure below on the tabletop?

First determine the sex. Then take a guess.

What I can tell you is both are graduating high school this year then heading off to college to study acting.

Each has worked seacoast theaters for 10 or more years. G Lady caught both in some of their earliest performances and has watched them and their talent grow. A wonderful experience.

Figured it out?

Hum, one played the White Rabbit, the other JoJo.

Still nothing?

A few more hints. Both will appear in the coming week in an area production and both are males. That's all I'm giving you.

Insert the "Jeopardy Theme" here. - Times up.

The little driver is Dylan Schwartz-Wallach. His last local project (for the foreseeable future) is "Mystery Plays" with Harbor Light Stage's Bold Face Play Reading, this coming Tuesday. Then it's work and prepping for Carnegie Mellon School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

And the person that does justice to those killer tights is Alex Dorr, who is heading off to Marymount Manhattan. For now you can catch him on stage at the Players Ring, in "Tricolored Roof."

Could be a while before you see either of these fine young men again.

A High Hat Off To You Boys

Gossip Lady

PS: check out a profile on Alex in the Portsmouth Herald Saturday April 11, by that McCartin Woman.

The Merman Cometh

Well Gossip Lovers,

The rumors– fanned by that McCartin woman in her Portsmouth Herald Spotlight “Gossip Column,” – are true. But I got the real scoop first. (Must be the hat hum : )?

It’s the ultimate combination - the fast fingers and frozen fins of a single man, married to Harbor Light Stage. Translated that means a new, one-man performance piece, the “unbelievably true story of ‘The Accordion Playing Merman’” says HLS’s Kent Stephens.

Kent and the Music Hall’s ED Patricia Lynch have spent months dragging every teeny tiny detail out of Gary Sredzienski regarding his insanely, off-beat life; given it order, (the tales not the life), and convinced him to revel all.

May 7 to 17 the Merman will take center stage at the York Harbor Reading Room.

No Gossip Lovers. I’m not mistaken. The event WILL be at the private club - open for this event to all of us, (they'll even allow their renowned chef to cook for us! It's dinner theater!). It seems they are as impressed by the master musician as the rest of us are. Well kudos for them.

So, tell me G Lovers; did you know Gary spent his earliest years as a performer, (starting at age 10), working with the aging troupe of vaudevillians known as the Hog Hollow Hooters? Well, I’m sure you’re aware he’s a world renown, master accordionist, WUNH DJ, environmentalist and that he swims in area creeks right through the frigid weather.(See earlier postings and video).

Please! You know I’m not making this stuff up. Oh and you can add amateur historian and pro humorist to that list.

What’s wonderful is that someone finally recognized all that talent that could help direct it. Gold star Kent! Gold star Patricia! And lucky, lucky us.

Finally we'll all get a chance to see Gary’s passions bundled and brought to fruition in a single performance. Oh the sweet, sweet bounty!

Yours in the love of seeing potential realized,

Gossip Lady

Note to all: tomorrow night, March 3, Harbor Light’s Bold Face Reading will present “My Name is Rachel Corrie” at the Portsmouth Pearl. They’re always delightful!
And check out G Lady’s video interview with Gary at his Maine home.
First photo: Gary, "the early years."
Photo of "Big Gary," by Grace Peirce.

A New Spot in Town

Greeting Gossip Lovers

Would you rent a room from this man? Well, I suspect lots of people will - and soon.

If you missed the breaking news in the Portsmouth Herald last week, Michael Tobin has taken over the Portsmouth Pearl as an independent contractor in the role of executive director. He's also owner/artistic director of Dramedy Productions, which will be the in-house theater.

BUT - and this is very important - Tobin sat down with G Lady (a very polite young man) and made it crystal clear The Pearl is an arts and cultural center, NOT his private theater. (Oh and still a function facility. Getting wed anyone)?

Michael is hoping other art concerns - including theater - will come running to sign up for one of the "very affordable " slots - a single concert or show, a full run, bi annual, etc.

All G Lady can say is I'm thrilled there's yet another venue in town.

Harbor Light Stage is already on the books for a few of its Bold Face Play Readings (next up "My name is Rachel Corrie," March 3).

Okay musicians, artists, playwrights, authors, production companies - there's a new space in town. Do what it is you do.

Oh, and that guy up there? He's gone with the decades that have passed since playing Claude in "Hair" at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. The current version is a lot less frightening.

So bring it on artists! More theater! More dance! More art!

Yours in creativity,

Gossip Lady

(You may know Michael as the director of the Prescott Park's "Oliver," the playwright/director/set designer/costumer/actor of numerous shows, notably Dramedy's signature production of "Christmas Carol," last seen at Garrison Players).