Yes, faithful readers!  The moment has arrived! (And I’m not talking about a new blog post!)

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly, shall now officially be called: Paul Reisman*

The asterisk appears in playbills to denote that an actor is a member of AEA, and for those who don’t know, AEA stands for Actors’ Equity Association, the National Union for Professional Stage Actor’s!!

After being a member of Equity’s candidate program for a few years now, I finally earned enough work weeks to become eligible, and after much deliberation, decided that I was ready for the challenge, and am making the big leap!

This step means a lot of things, higher paying jobs, regulated work hours, health insurance, union protection..but also, it means that I am now Officially, Paul Reisman, the actor.  Muwahahahahaha!!

As you may know, no two members of the union are allowed the same professional name.  So, if there’s already one of “you”, you need a new name; a situation that has lead famously to the creation of new names such as Nathan Lane, Walter Cronkite and Captain Kangaroo, just to name a few!

BUT, if there’s another Paul Reisman out there, a young hopeful, determined to bravely make his way on stage, well, then he better start coming up with a nickname!

Now, next item of business, though it came first, was my triumphant return to the North!!  I know you Yankees have all missed me, and I come home, world-weary, proud, brave, and stong, back to your open, inviting arms.

I got back about a month and a half ago, having successfully completed a year with the American Shakespeare Center’s Piercing Eloquence Tour.  We had a truly wonderful time and the shows were a big hit!  It was such an incredibly rewarding experience, spending so much time working so hard on material so rich, with such a gifted cast and wonderful directors.  The author was really low keyed too, being that he had been dead for over 300 years.  I hope you all get a chance to spend some time in such a great work environment.

Also, another exciting tidbit - while performing our spring season in Virginia, I got the opportunity to take a combat class with a wonderful teacher, and received certification in Rapier and Dagger!  It was a great time!  Swordfighting with a weapon in each hand is a bit confusing at first, but really fun and a great thing to try and wrap one’s mind around.  At the end of the class, we had to do a final scene with a partner.  My buddy Josh and I chose a scene from Henry IV part 1.  It’s a scene between Prince Hal and Hotspur where both fight over a rightful claim to the throne of England, ending in bloodshed..mine.  Ooh, death scenes are fun.  And death scenes with rapiers and daggers, even better!

And so, I come to now, at the turn of the tide.  More experienced?  Possibly.  More attractive?  Probably.  More Reisman?  DEFINITELY.  Hello, sports fans.  It’s good to be home.

So, now that things have settled, writing to all of you out there in Cyberspace will hopefully be easier.

First, and most importantly:  The ROAD is OVER.  LONG LIVE THE ROAD.  The Piercing Eloquence Tour of 07/08 is now in its final act.  We’ve just this weekend opened all three of our shows at the BlackFriars Playhouse (or as I like to call it, home) here in Staunton, VA.  The Residency begins…

The last days of the actual tour were wonderful.  After spending far too much time in Minnesota, we took a two-day journey southeast-ward(?)  Sadly, after all this time traveling, i still have a less than adequate knowledge of where certain states lie.  BUT, we came back down to Virginia and played a couple venues nearby before finally settling down to roost.  And there’s that great feeling of ownership that comes with a triumphant return: MY sandwich shop, MY library, MY closet–i mean, my ROOM.

At any rate we’re back!  And that’s that.  The crowds this past week have been spectacular.  So warm and welcoming.  It’s gonna be a great Spring.

AND, for anyone not on my mailing list, i’ve just received word that tomorrow–YES, TOMORROW–a film i’m in is premiering on Youtube.com!  It’s called Cult of Sincerity and i’m really psyched about it.  I shot a small scene for it last year and had almost given up waiting or it to come out, but now! it’s here!!  So, if you haven’t already seen it - i present to you a clip of the scene from the film’s website.  And to see the whole scene (and the whole film, for that matter) please check it out on Youtube.com starting tomorrow!!

Cult of Sincerity Website

My clip!

Catch ya later!

As always, I’m Paul Reisman.

then it’s time for me to appologize to you once again.

As Mr. Bussey reminded me recently, I have a blog.  And so, I decided to spent a moment or two on this day off to catch everyone up on the continuing adventures of our favorite fictional hero, the ReisMAN.  After an incredible 6 months or so of work, our troupe was given a two week vacation starting on December 31.  Everyone went their separate ways after having spent nearly every day together for almost 180 days(?) - eh, 200 sounds more impressive - yes, 2 HUNDRED DAYS!

Some flew to Texas, some drove to Jersey, some just stayed put.  But we were alone!  Living our solitary lives once again.  A strange and exciting thing!  I went home and immediately contracted Bronchitis.  I’ve found that over the last number of years, my body has gotten used to getting sick on vacation or at the close of a show.  It’s the only time I’m allowed.  So, the first of my two weeks was spent in my bathrobe, sniffling, coughing, and playing many video games.  Perhaps this would have bothered someone else, but, it may have forced me to do what I really wanted to do most - nothing.  And so, I lounged around with not a care in the world.

It was in the second week that I got out and about, tripping into NYC (that beautiful city!!), and seeing old friends.  It was life-restoring.  You never really realize how much you miss it all till you come back home. And before you could say, “Oh boy, back to work!” - it was back to work.  Another six-hour drive, South, this time, brought me back to Staunton, where we had a few rehearsals before returning to the road.  After performing A Christmas Carol all December, it was a joy to come back to the shows that felt truly ours.  We came back to the characters we had been living with for 5 months and fired their stories up again.

One of the blessings of this contract is that it’s so long.  To return to a play over time, is as rewarding as any book, any movie you see again after years.  You’ve changed and the art has changed for you.  You see things there that seem to have appeared out of thin air, and yet, they were always there.

And so, with fresh steam, we left Staunton once more, knowing that when we returned it would be for our Residency which marks the closing of the contract.  And so we catch up with our hero, again on the road, again in new theatres and new towns, again seeking out a hotel hot tub.  Ah, wilderness! 

This dispatch comes to you three weeks into the second leg (or, for those keeping track, Act IV ) We first went off to West Viginia!

It was bitter cold outside, but inside audiences had a blast all week at Fairmont State U.  We spent the majority of the week playing shows for high school groups and finished with a couple big shows for everyone else!  Amid one day’s cancellation from snow and another’s constant interruption of fire alarms, the high school performances proved interesting and new.

At the end of the week we continued our journey through West Virginia, stopping in Buckhannon, and New Martinsville, where, due to flooding this time, a high school performance was shut down mid-show.  Consequently, our evening performance at a local theatre (the next night) was attended by a large contingency of teens who were desperate to find out how The Merchant of Venice ends.

We bid WVA a fond farewell and finally the moment had arrived.  After dreaming about it for months we had actually made it to FLORIDA!!!

Sarasota treated us well for our first few days in the Sunshine State.  A couple great shows, a couple great days, and one spectacular hotel.  Some enjoyed a beautiful day at the beach, some enjoyed lunch at Porky’s BBQ, and all wore t-shirts and shorts (well, most)!!

The weather was beautiful and the heat, rejuvenating, but we needed more!  And so we traveled further South still to breathtaking Islamorada.  The time spent there was incredible.  And while working down there, everyday felt like vacation: Swaying palm trees, bubbling hot-tubs, and a blanket of stars in the night sky.

The week ended where I will leave you for now: with a bunch of us sitting down at a big round table together at a huge seafood buffet, enjoying good food, good times, and good company.

Talk to you soon.

As always, I’m Paul Reisman.

PS - Check out the link to your left to see new tour pics at my web album!! 

Well!  I’ve survived the first leg and made it to December!!

The tour has returned (for the month) to Staunton, VA, where we are opening A Christmas Carol in just a few days!! There is a popular breakdown people in the company use to talk about the tour contract.  It follows Shakespeare’s five act format (go figure).  Act One is the summer of rehearsals when one first arrives down here.  Act Two is the first leg of the tour, when you hit the road.  Act Three is where we are now.  It’s the month-long stay down here doing a new show for the home-town crowd 12 times a week.  (Act Four will be the second leg of the tour, and Act Five is the triumphant return to Stauton for our Spring residency.)

This morning I woke up to the first (and maybe only) snowfall of the season down here.  It finally felt like December.  Things have been so wonderful lately.  Had the time to travel up to Jersey and surprise my family for Thanksgiving.  Having tons of fun working on Fred and Tiny Tim.  And there’s just that special end of the year feeling all around.

 As I have been a bad blogger and not kept up to date with all the states we’ve been through, I’ve decided to cap the State of the Reisman column with a word association game: 

VERMONT: Crisp, Fresh, Fall 
NEW YORK: Home Again
 MAINE: Peaceful, Foliage, Chowda 
MASSACHUSETTS: Chowda, Funky, Fun
 UPSTATE NY:  Natural, Restful, Warm 
CONNECTICUT: Halloween!, Early, Tired
 VIRGINIA: Almost There, Crazed, Busy 

And that concludes the word association game.  I hope this gave an informative, insightful, glimpse at the remainder of the first leg.  BUT, in case you just can’t visualize it.  Go to the link on the right-hand side of your screen entitled My Web Albums, to see what everyone’s talking about.

 Well, good talkin to you.  If you need me, I’ll be down here in Virginia until the 30th of December.  FEEL FREE TO VISIT.  Would love to have you.  In addition to A Christmas Carol, we’ll be performing each of our regular shows (Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Henry V) from December 28-30, before returning to the road. 

As always, I’m Paul Reisman. 

Welcome back, sportsfans…appologies for the long delay, but things have been nuts (to put it lightly).

Also, because one or two thumbnails just WILL NOT DO, i’ve done much more work on my web albums for you all, and if you click that lil link on the right hand side of your screen, you’ll be able to enjoy MANY pictures that correspond to the tales o’ the road.  Enjoy!! 

O-How ya doin-O

Orrville was wonderful to us!  We stayed long enough to do both Merchant of Venice AND the Taming of the Shrew there.  First time we had done multiple shows at a venue.  It’s a great thing when that gets to happen, because there’s an opportunity for the crowds to see you do completely different characters.  And it’s rewarding for the actors because we get to sit down for a couple days rather than hit the road again the next day.

The space we played there was a huge gym, turned theatre space.  The place was cavernous and filled to the brim was people for both performances.  A thrill and a challenge, we had to work much harder to make sure the play reached everyone in the back of the house.   But it was exciting.  Each theatre you bring these shows to changes the plays in some way.  And the differences teach you things about the plays.  Sometimes the performance that twists the spacing around the most, is the most fun.

Amidst raucous applause, several curtain calls, and a standing ovation (on our last night in town) I heard one gentleman exclaim, “Culture comes to Wayne County!”  And I felt a swell of pride.  Being part of this troupe.  Bringing my share to the table.  It was a great night for all of us.

But before we could rest on our laurels and enjoy it, we were off again, with the sun (and the rolling fog, on this particular morning).  We were headed to:

MARYLAND

First to Frederick went we; and after all that traveling had the night off (and the following day).  That evening CJ and I–

Character Description #1 - CJ (aka Chris Johnston) Our lanky, laid back, rockstar actor.  Playing Hortensio in Shrew, Salerio in Merchant, and the Dauphin in Henry V.  Also playing the Plump Sister in Christmas Carol.  Brilliant musician.  Guitarist.  Singer/songwriter.  Currently single, ladies.

–hung out in the room.  Chilled out, tried to get the vibe of Frederick, MD.  And late that night most of us headed out to a near-midnight showing of Across the Universe at a local movie theatre.  Was a very cool movie, and a very nice way to finish the day.

On the next day (after sleeping in) CJ and I had a nice, relaxed day that consisted of bumming around, mainly.  The first and most important part of the day was the discovery of a DINER!!!  Being from the Diner (Garden) State myself, this was a welcome piece of home.  And even better, was the wonderful breakfast we had there (at 1pm).  Afterwards, the two sexy, nomadic actors got back into the cargo van and scoped out the MALL!!  (Second best reminder of the homeland).  We bought books, him: Kurt Vonnegut.  Me: War and Peace.  We’ve all taken to reading massive books on the road, because we know we have all the time in the world.  And I decided to conquer the beast.  Besides, russian names sound so impressive in conversation.  “Oh, yes,” I will soon be able to say, “I believe that what TOLSTOY was trying to say was rather simple, really.  Ahhahahhaaa..mmm…yes.”

I also made a killer purchase in buying a headphone splitter for the road.  This rather simple device is beautiful in that on long trips (and already several times, so far) myself and a friend can sit in the van plug BOTH our headphones into my laptop and watch a movie on the ride.  Already Raffi and I–

Character Description #2 - Raffi (aka Raffi Barsoumian) Our bold, brash, Armenian wunderkind actor.  Playing Lucentio in Shrew, Solanio/Morocco in Merchant, and Bardolph in Henry V.  Just graduated from Carnegie Mellon.  Brainy AND brawny, this crossword devotee is also single, ladies.

–sat down to watch Back to the Future Pt.1 and once the caravan had hit hours of traffic, we put in Back to the Future Pt.2 to finish off a trip.  Life-SAVER.

And last but not least on our day off, CJ and I went to the arcade.  Where much money was spent, and no prizes were won.  But I did manage to find the old Simpsons arcade game, which (at 25 cents a play) I was able to beat in under $4.  That’s right, folks, I rule.

The following evening brought a well received performance of Merchant at Hood College, before we traveled to beautiful Baltimore to perform for three days at even more beautiful Loyola College!

Now, finally we were at a venue where we would perform our entire reperatory.  Three nights, three shows (including our first road performance of Henry V).  And we had a blast!  Each night was more rewarding than the last, finishing our stay with a raucous night of Shrew!

It was soon time to bid Maryland adieu, but not before a day trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art.  Four of us headed over in a van and availed ourselves of some fine food and fine art.  That day I found myself really feeling the European masters and spent most of my time in those galleries.  Besides, a day where you get to see a real Botticelli up close is not to be missed.  Also, as I almost forgot to mention, possibly the best scallops I’ve ever eaten.  (And this is written SINCE we’ve been to Maine and Massachusetts).

So, it came to my attention (Thank you, Jim), that there may be folks out there in cyberspace reading this blog and wondering how the tour has been thus far. And so, we at PaulReisman.com bring to you the official first chapter in the story of a troupe of 11 actors and 1 fearless tour manager. This State of the Reisman column will endeavor to bring you, the reader, up to date and up to STATE with the Reisman and his fellow tourmates. And as an added bonus - as this is the first part of our tale, we’ll be giving you three, YES THREE, states in one.

VIRGINIA 

   We left early in the morning. It was Sept. 15. It was Saturday. Having gotten little sleep the night before (from last minute packing), the troupe assembled, some weary, some jumpy, all brimming with excitement, in their own way.Several family members and friends came to see us off - it was a scene of great emotion as we prepared to embark on our long and arduous 2 hour journey to Lawrenceville, VA. Friends embraced, babies cried, vans were packed and off we went bidding a fond farewell to the place we had come to call home - Staunton.The vans were comfortable, the scrabble game was fun, the cookies were delicious - I knew this would be a difficult trip. But, steeling myself, I played on.We reached Lawrenceville soon after, and surveyed the town. Upon finding food and a theatre (in that order), we ate and did a show, and ate again afterwards.It was a thrill to finally be performing for strangers. To finally be in front of a real, live, opinionated audience. It was the point at which I heard some disgruntled mumbles from an older gentleman I had brushed up against in my pumps and tutu, that I knew we had reached them! Ah, the thrill of live theatre!But alas, after one night we were on the road again, this time to: 

SOUTH CAROLINA  

Welcome to the Belmont Inn…enjoy your stay! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!It seemed to say.A very friendly employee of the very Inn admitted to us it was haunted. And that Raffi and I were staying in #6 - the haunted ROOM. Chris Johnston had stayed in that room a year earlier on the previous tour, and he told us a story of how he saw a little girl ghost sitting on the edge of his bed in the middle of the night. Chilling. Needless to say, faithful readers, I’m alright. But it was the last we ever heard of poor Raffi…The building was terrifying yet fascinating. It was an untouched hotel from the early part of the century, complete with several dining rooms, a huge veranda, and a grand staircase. It felt like you were stepping into a Tennesee Williams play (and, conversely, a Stephen King novel).It was here in SC we were to do our first performance of Merchant. Finally opening this show on the road was a great joy. With the amount it has to say to an audience about relationships and the choices we make, we were all thrilled to begin that dialogue with audiences. And it was very well received. The only thing left to do, was leave. And so, off we went to beautiful:  

NORTH CAROLINA  

Having spent a couple days in the southern half, we thought it only fitting to visit the Carolina’s northern self. We found ourselves at lushous Western Carolina University in their brand spanking new Performing Arts Center. A gorgeous state-of-the-art theatre awaited us that evening, but not before we put our things down in the alumni houses they had for us. It was lovely to spend time in a house again after jumping from hotel room to hotel room recently. We took some time to eat, shower and nap before heading to the venue.We had another very exciting performance of Merchant at WCU, a huge crowd of students and others were there to see us and once again received the show warmly.  We all agreed that we wished we could stay.  But our night had come to an end, and after a small post show celebration, we prepared to roam again.The next morning we packed up, met at the vans, bid a fond farewell to the university, it’s beautiful theatre, and North Carolina entirely.  Where we’d end up next, we didn’t know, but one thing was for certain!  Wherever people wanted theatre, wherever they thirsted for language, wherever the world needed Shakespeare, we’d be there.  We few, we happy few, we, Piercing Eloquence!

And so, we’re off and running! The vans have finally left the station and we have been touring for 2 weeks now! We’ve seen VA, NC, SC, OH and MD, and will be returning to Staunton for a week to begin preparing A Christmas Carol. For those who haven’t heard, yours truly shall be playing the Tinest of the Crachit family — that cripple himself — Tiny Tim. If you’re around or want to visit VA in December, don’t miss it!

Also, and more immediately, the Piercing Eloquence Tour will be making what may be its closest stop to NYC on October 13!! We’ll be performing The Merchant of Venice at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY that Saturday night. It’s a really sharp, intense production, and I would love to see everyone while in town. The show is an 8:00 performance with a preshow that starts around 7:30. More info can be found on WCC’s website at this link:

http://www.sunywcc.edu/aboutwcc/whats_new/venice.htm

October will bring lots of appearances in the northeast, so come on out! Can’t wait to see you.

Welcome to PaulReisman.com! I’m very happy to have the site finally up. I have to give a huge thanks to Mr. Jay Lawton, without whom none of this would have been possible.  Keep checking here for updates in the adventures of yours truly!

One of the main goals of the site right now, is to be an information hub for any of you interested in the tour.  If you look at the sidebar, you’ll find links to the official website of American Shakespeare Center, as well as other blogs and albums relating to the tour.  Our tour dates can be found by going to the News page, and I’ll be attempting to write updates from the road here, as often as possible.  If you are interested in seeing us, or getting more information about a certain venue, please feel free to contact me at Paul@PaulReisman.com or just click the Contact button!