GAY D*NNIE D*RK* 🐰

TLDR my brother got married, i released warranty, brooklyn art haus run is around the corner, & we're in gemini season.

Hi friends!

You're on this email chain because:

•we've worked together in some capacity

•we haven't yet, but maybe want to/have talked about it in some capacity

•we’re friends, or are related

•I like you

Or some combo of all the above.

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Hello, beautiful people!

Well, the third time's the charm.

First, we were on a basic HTML email. Very retro. Then, I decided my newsletters needed a makeover and took them to where all mass emails go to get a glow-up: MailChimp.

Then MailChimp was trying to charge me, so I said, to hell with you! I'll go to TinyLetter! Only for TinyLetter to become bought…by Mailchimp.

It's like, I just want to send emails that look pretty to a bunch of people. Why are you charging me?

Like, just get advertisers or something to subsidize costs. Put fucking clickbait advertisements at the bottom of my newsletters ("horny single moms in your area! CLICK HERE NOW!", "This woman's skin looks so good for her age. DERMATOLOGISTS HATE HER! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHY!", [insert picture of a former child actor from a vaguely unflattering angle] LOOKS LIKE THIS NOW?!!) for all I care. You know what I mean?

It's like paying for iCloud or Google storage. I'm like, this is all fake. 100% completely fake concept, and now you're charging us. Paying for things like internet storage or sending aesthetically pleasing mass emails is just a way for BigEmail™ and BigTech™ to make a killing. Such a complete load of shit.*

And so many of us just put up with it! Because we're too beaten down by capitalism.

capitalism beating our asses^

We're like, Sure, fine, whatever! Take my money to send a mass email that looks pretty! Or, Yes! This makes sense! We'll pay for "digital storage." We surrender! You might as well add a tip option while you're at it!

That's to say—it's been some time since I published one of these bad boys. So time for me to fill some people in.

Anyway, welcome to Really Makes You Think. The latest version of my newsletter. I hope it’s everything you wanted and more.

*In writing this I actually did discover that things from the cloud are physically stored, which kind of blows my mind, actually. So maybe it is something that genuinely needs to be paid for? But also, no. Fuck that. Google is rich. Apple is rich; they can eat the cost. I don’t feel bad for them.
 

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My Brother Got Married!

<3333

In early April, my brother, Keith, and my brother-in-law, Andy, had a ceremony and reception at Park Avenue Armory. It was gorgeous and the food was amazing (I forgot to get a picture of the menu but there was swordfish, filet, salad that had a dressing made out of cashew something or other I couldn’t have because I’m allergic so I just had it raw, lots of bread, and orange wine which I’d never had?). It’s been fantastic getting to know the Baraghanis, I can’t wait to hang with them more. BTW yes - I do have a gay brother! Two, in fact! Yes all of us are gay!!!! Really makes you think!!!

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We’ve Been Trying To Reach You About Your Car’s Extended Warranty

YOU CAN WATCH MY WEB SERIES WE’VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH YOU ABOUT YOUR CAR’S EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FREE HERE!

I won awards/got honorable mentions in digital festivals in Global Shorts, Lift-Off Global Network UK, & NomadTV Festival! Wahoo!

You can also interact with some ~transmedia elements~ here! (Scroll down).

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Nicki Cochrane

I never thought I’d make it into American Theatre Magazine for commenting on one of the most despised figures in the New York Theatre scene, but here we are. I don’t want to give her any more airtime than she’s already gotten, but I’ll say this, she is the worst and if you’ve never met this woman, count your blessings. To know her is to lived a tortured existence. Once you know her, you can’t un-know her.

Here is a link to this controversial piece I was interviewed for. Let me know what you think!

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Donnie and Greg: An Unauthorized Transformative Work

I have been waiting since 2007, when I learned Harvard A.R.T produced their own version of D***** D**** that I’ve wanted to do mine.

This project has been in the works for so many years. I’ve transformed this beloved cult classic Sci fi film (that I refuse to name in any advertising materials but it involves the Gyllenhaals, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, and Beth Grant) so that Donnie is a gay closeted teen in a relationship with a boy, Greg. A lot of it is pulled from one of my high school relationships, so it’s very personal to me.

This version is essentially proof-of-concept. It’s SUPER truncated. 25 minutes long.

I couldn’t ask for a better return to directing. Omg. This set? This cast? This sound design? This lighting design? This prop design? This costume design!? This stage management? This movement work!?

Y’all are gonna gag. Wigs will be snatched.

I already did a run at SoHo Playhouse and Brooklyn Art Haus is right around the corner! Pics by Dan Wright Photography.

My gorgeous Creative Producer, Alexa Powell, with our jet engine, made by Scenic Designer Hannah Tarr.

LINK TO TICKETS

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Latest Obsessions:

• THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG. Shout out to Clem for introducing this absolute GEM to me. The design of this movie is so fabulous. But also, it’s basically the closest thing to an opera movie I’ve ever seen? It’s literally all sung thru. It’s period and it’s French and if you’re not into that kind of thing, keep it moving. But I also found the ending of this movie to be totally unexpected and really beautiful. Top to the bottom, it’s subversive musical theatre. If you want to feel like a person with refined taste, THIS IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU.

• At a glacial pace, I’m currently reading THE WHITE ALBUM by Didion and a horror novel called FAMILIAR SPIRIT by Lisa Tuttle, George RR Martin’s ex-wife. It’s been labeled as one of the most disturbing cult horror novels by many websites, and it’s out of print, but I have to tell you, it’s not thaaaat scary. Has anyone here read it?

• “Good Luck Babe”. I mean.

• I’ve been so obsessed with GLB that I went through TT to find people who’ve done covers of it, just to get variety, and I found this person named Lou Mace and they released this song called “Patient Body” that I think is really gorgeous. I’ve been listening to it a lot.

• QUIET ON SET. I got a lot of opinions on this one. It’s harrowing. It’s a tough watch. It’s mostly incredible and eye-opening. I do wish they didn’t give Drake Bell as much air time. It’s like, he went through some real stuff, but he also did real stuff (TW: sexual assault). And it’s kinda been swept under the rug.

• This clip of Chloe Sevigny talking shit about LA.

• Miley’s “Wish You Were Here”, and “Wish You Were Here” in general.

• Matt Buchele’s rant about media layoffs.

• This season of Hacks.

• Espresso.

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Person Of The Month:

This was a tough one. But I’m gonna go with Kirsten Samanich. Kirsten is an absolute powerhouse and she does not get enough credit. Until very recently she was a Nickelodeon exec and is in the market for a new job in television, she is an amazing poet, a STUNNING visual artist, and now an iconic costume designer. On top of all of this, she’s a fucking amazing friend who I can always rely on. I owe this bitch the world and then some. This is a funny one of her with the Frank mask on. Did I mention she’s also funny as fuck?! I love you, Kirsten!!!!

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