DevinRitchie.com

Well Slaughtrhouse-5 is over. OVER. Crazy. This was the most successful thing I have ever been a part of. We SOLD OUT every night for our last weekend and even needed to add a show our last day. Moreover, it wasn’t just about selling out, it was about having a show that meant something to people. I feel like it did. At the very least us.

We have the potential possibility to be invited to the American College Theatre Festival in Humboldt this year (here’s hoping[knock on wood]). I guess I vainly don’t want it to be over yet. I dont know what to do anymore, Words & Voices kept me busy then Slaughterhouse obsessed me for 2 months. I have a month before Blithe Spirit starts, so I have just been staying at home chatting with grandma, reading, and writing.

We will know this weekend if Slaughterhouse has a life beyond this school. But a lot of us are already moving on, Moni is Tracy in Hairspray at runaway, Casey got into Fool for Love at SF State, and me of course. So it wont be all bad if we weren’t to be chosen. We had a great run.

In case you didnt see it, check out some of the images. and also go to TBrindisi.com for the rest of em.

Sorry, if it sounds like I have been braggy or cocky lately. But know that I am just extremely excited to be apart of this show, having it be good, and having it sell out. And I am SO EXCITED to finally have a lead. I have worked hard for a long time. Don’t worry, I am humble, I’m just kinda shocked. But always immensely thankful.

peace

I GOT THE LEAD IN BLITHE SPIRIT!!!!

WOOoooo, I’m so excited. I’ve never been a real lead before

The play is written by Noel Coward (love him) and its all British and its a comedy, basically I’m a married dude who has a crazy seance for a book I’m writing and then the ghost of my other wife who died starts haunting me… Ok, it sounds worse than it is, but it was the longest running comedy on the west end. And Angela Lansbury just did it on Broadway. SO. fuck yeah. It starts February 25th.

Slaughterhouse has been amazing and we sold out yet again last night! woo!

And the magazine is at the printers and will be finished and in my hands this time next week. My designs look fucking awesome in it, this is totally the best American River Review we have ever done. I’m real proud of it.

And I’m proud of Slaughterhouse-5.

And I’m proud of me getting a lead in an awesome show.

Good week to be Devin Ritchie.

*that pic is of me and my buddy Monica at Asylum at barcode over the summer. No, I’m not blonde anymore.

peace.

Thanksgiving came and went. Pretty Typical Ritchie Holiday, drink mimosas, have eggs Benedict, eat snack and watch movies all day.

The only difference was the night before thanksgiving, my brother, sister, mom, and I had all stayed up. We began having real conversations, which eventually lead to them confronting me that its time to shape up. Which aggravated me because I feel like I have been making strides to, and I am doing better. But its a little too late in their minds I guess. Then we (I) rehashed old issues that we hadn’t discussed ever, and things a little heated. This wasn’t all bad mind you, I’m glad we can rationally speak about serious topics and confront each other. And still be fine the next day. The fact is they want better for me. They need me to do a lot better. They have given me grace periods, and they wont kick me out, but they want to stop putting up with bull shit. That is slightly disheartening since I felt like I was doing pretty good recently.

Slaughterhouse has been going great, full audiences, good responses. It feels worth it. but I’m going to do something tonight I’m a bit unsure about, I’m going to audition for Blithe Spirit here at ARC. Why? It’s Noel Coward, its right up my alley, I have never done a lead, and this is a great show for me. Why not? Because I want to leave! because this conflicts with ACTF, and what if slaughterhouse goes to competition.

I fantasize about leaving everyday. Bryce has an extra room in LA and offered it to me, Michael Sunshine has an extra room in Seattle. I really really want to leave, but I’m so scared. I have no money and honestly don’t even do my own laundry. (yes, I am ashamed about that).

So here’s what I’m going to do tonight. I’m going to audition and only accept the lead. If I get it (history proves I wont, so this is pretty pointless…) , I will do it.

I hate when I blog like this. I really do. It’s bitch bitch bitch, I have been complaining about the same things for years and am doing nothing about it.

I have been writing a lot. On my typewriter. Just stories, my stories. I guess its a half assed attempt at a memoir. It’s probably terrible. I realized one of my talents is for story telling, and I’m hoping it translates to paper. Mostly it is just therapeutic though. I really doubt anyone would read it. But maybe, it’s far more honest than I am on here. I am honest on here, but that has several more secrets. Things that the public consumption of a blog wouldn’t be good for. I secretly pretend I’m writing the next great American novel, I will get crazy rich from my publisher, and Oprah will tell everyone to buy it. Then it will be turned into a movie where I would be undoubtedly played by Lou Taylor Pucci. Yup, that’s how interesting I am. (that last bit was sarcastic if you couldn’t tell).

I guess I want to do this play to show my family and friends that I can. I honestly believe they think I have failed, and they want me to man up and get a real jobby job and stop wasting time being bit parts continually holding out for the next one.

I watched a documentary on SNL in 90s and in the 00s. Going the comedy route might be my best option. As ridiculous of a pipe dream that sounds like, its far more realistic than my hopes in becoming a serious actor? or a performance artist? or a celebrated author lol. I need to take a moment to realize what I do best, and it is comedy(debatable). I would be fulfilled if that were what I did for money. This is a stupid ass blog rant today….

I AM doing good. I’m in a good play and (still expecting to be…) getting paid by the winery. learning a lot about graphic design, a lot about theatre, and fuck my play might go to ACTF. And I have pretty much been only drinking on the weekends, big improvement. Surprise surprise I have been reading a fuck ton too, social commentaries, memoirs of drug addicts and drag queens, and books on acting. Who am I? I totally don’t read books. Good for me.

oh and that picture is of me and Corey Frou playing Wizard Sticks, an amazing drinking game where you stack beers and duck tape them into a staff and pretend to be wizards. When you have 11 you get a wizard hat

peace

Slaughterhouse-5 opens tonight! I am SO EXCITED. This has been a great experience. Now people get to see it. I am so thankful to do a show like this after a long string of doing fairly traditional theatre, it was time to get weird. Sci-fi theatre, time travel, aliens, puppetry, AMAZING LIGHTS, and solid performances. I know this was the right show to hold out for.

Come see it everyone! It’s $10 for students in a brand new theatre. You will not see a show like this very often. I can promise you this. It will be interesting.

I have a had a great semester being assistant director for Pamela Downs for 2 shows and have learned a lot. I have also performed in both those shows. And tonight is the culmination of the work put in. I have been thinking about this play since last april when Pam had me read it during Philly story, then I read the novel, reread the play and so on. Now its ready, and it is a spectacle.

Everything has been going pretty good lately. The play has been great of course. It is also print deadline for the American River Review, and I can promise that this is the best magazine we have produced to date, and I have some really cool designs in the magazine!

Also Lavish Laines Winery has been making great progress, new board of directors, new investors and new part owners (including my brother). And I have started getting paid thank god….. I’m swimming in debt. Don’t get a DUI… their expensive.

And I have been way to busy to be going out or socializing or drinking. I’m generally sober all the time. Which is a nice change of pace. Most my friends are coming home this weekend and are going to see the show and I get to hang out with them yay.

Through slaughterhouse I have made a lot of new friends and gotten awfully good at beer pong. ha

But again… Come see Slaughterhouse-5

peace.

This title sounds so pretencious. I’m sorry.

I’ll suffice it to this; I feel my luck has run out. My foolish reckless abandonment now has consequences, the trial period is over. I have pushed my limits far enough, it’s time I learn and head on back. I have always wanted to go there and back, have a story, have an adventure, but not at the cost of what I could lose. I’m still interesting. I’m still learning.

I’ve been writing a lot, on a typewriter actually. It’s interesting when you just bleed onto the paper with no filter. Therapeutic really. I’m just not sure if any of it is actually good. I might have a few friends read it and give me some feedback before I start posting short stories and poetry here. I’m ascared….

Some good job prospects! Great things coming for Lavish Laines winery! They just bought a new location off Buena Vista and Tesla in Livermore (right next to all the other wineries) so that will be amazing, we are going to open up a tasting room there as well. AND they want me to be their webmaster and get paid. Woot. I just need o find time to get down to Livermore to work on the harvest and get the new winery ready. OH AND I’m getting a couple more babysitting jobs coming in from the bay. All my jobs want me to be in the bay… interesting… Too bad things are starting to conflict with comedy sportz and some other obligations though.

I have had a lot of visitors recently, its nice. Last weekend Colleen came and stayed from Humboldt and Sean came and stayed from Elk Grove. So fun! We had birthday fun early. This weekend Ruth will be here! and there will be more shenanigans. Then next weekend my good old buddy Tim Muldoon will be staying with me for a couple days! He is applying to UC Davis Med School! Love when friends visit me.

Words and Voices went great!!! I got great compliments and it made me feel kinda validated. It really felt like creating art and bringing something to life more than traditional theatre has felt recently. One of the pieces I worked on was called “Jack & Coke” a poem about drunk driving beginning with the wake of the lives after the crash and working its way backwards to the celebration that brought on the accident. It was good for me to do. Between that, generally not driving anymore, and payments that are horrendous. I think I have effectively learned a lesson. I don’t want to hide problems like this, I wear them. In fact, there are TWO articles in my school newspaper coming out this Tuesday featuring me. And in one it will mention my DUI and how I prepared for my play. I have some anxiety about it being printed, but I need it to be so I can move on. The other article is about Cafe Noir, the open mic night I host. And there’s gonna be a picture of me there’s something extremely unfufilling about being in my community college newspaper. Twice. After I have been there for over 4 years. #signIneedtoleave

The good news is that Slaughterhouse-5 has just started rehearsal, and it promises to be ridiculous and very challenging. THANK GOD. It has given me a distinct interest in World War II lately, and I don’t have any interest in wars typically.  I usually don’t even like war movies. But then I found out today talking to my grandma that her father died at age 43 in 1945 in the war. That is right when our play will be set and it made me realize that this is my grandmothers generation. And it is real. I guess I just feel a bit more connected now. So ready to get this shit started!

Birthday month starts today! Still keeping it pretty low key. Just going out and drinking with some friends this weekend. I love my birthday but I need to take it easy and not glorify myself right now, its better for my health. I know it’s bad when I literally am planning a redemption speech to my family at my birthday dinner, I have to shape up. For me and for them. And they need to know that its important and I’m not blowing them off.

Honestly, the reason I have been writing so much lately is because I hope this lifestyle will give me a retirement package in that it should make a good book someday. That’s my ego speaking hoping what I’m doing means something. Hoping that I am important and more than a party kid looking for an escape. I’m still holding out hope, hence I write.

**the picture on top is from Greg Dorado’s going away party, I’m gonna miss him!

peace