I’ve just completed another week of acting classes with Elizabeth Townsend, in which we worked on some Meisner techniques but mostly Michael Chekhov. I’m grateful for the breakthroughs and realizations I had, a deeper understanding of Chekhov’s ideas, and the cemented trust in myself I gained from this intense week.
Allow it to happen. Give yourself permission.
I had a very different internal energy going on tonight, put the pencil away during Gestures, and grabbed a plain old PaperMate Medium Point blue pen (my favorite). I really like the results. My mind was totally free and not worried about getting things right. It’s a lovely state to be in: ready to play and willing to let whatever happens, happen.
It works in acting, it works in drawing.
Recently, I participated in a three-week directing workshop taught by Seth Gordon, former Associate Artistic Director of The Cleveland Play House and current Associate Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
The scene I chose to direct was from The Glass Menagerie, Scene Seven, by Tennessee Williams.
It stars Scott Gorbach as Jim and Debbie Lenarz as Laura.
Ray Caspio, Debbie Lenarz, and Scott Gorbach
I’m excited to announce I will be playing Yusef El-Fayoumy in The Basement Apartment Theater Movement’s production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.
The play will be performed in the church on the campus of Cleveland Public Theatre, August 4th through 7th.
There’s been a lack of illustration-related posts recently, and for good reason!
Open Mind Firmament ended its acclaimed run at Cleveland Public Theatre. Being a part of that show was a great experience!
In early June, I completed a 10-day intensive workshop on Alba Emoting, taught by Roxane Rix, the senior teacher in the United States. It was a fascinating 10 days which resulted in new dimensions in my acting and many positive personal changes. I’m so grateful to have been introduced to this fascinating technique and look forward to continuing my study of it.
Currently, I’m in a three-week directing workshop taught by Seth Gordon, former Associate Artistic Director of The Cleveland Play House, and current Associate Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. I’ll be directing a scene from Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, my favorite play. I will play Tom one day! That’s my dream role. At the conclusion of this class, I will be continuing my training with my acting teacher, Elizabeth Ann Townsend. More Michael Chekhov is a good thing.
Last weekend, I participated in a photoshoot with photographer Simon Peng and creator Tony Thai for The Intimacy Project, and am now working with the two of them on making that great project grow.
On June 9th, I was the Dish of the Day on Deep Dish and ended up being the favorite Dish of that week, winning 30% of the votes in the weekly poll.
Illustration and design-wise, I completed the home page illustration for 16thand8th.com; a website for a television pilot. I’m now working with Jayel Aheram to design the logo for his upcoming website, The Valleyist.
It’s great to be busy and I’m looking forward to upcoming auditions! Be sure to check out the newly updated pages on this site: Acting, which includes video, and Photo Galleries.
It’s Towel Boy week at Marc Harshbarger’s Deep Dish and I’m the Dish of the Day!
I guess the next title for me will be Miss USA and then I’ll get the call from my agent offering me the part of Wonder Woman when I’m down to my last $20.00. Just like Lynda Carter!
On May 3rd, I was voted the Hunk of the Day on hunkdujour.com, beating out Robert Pattinson and Eddie Cibrian!
This is my second time appearing on their site. The first was an interview I did in 2009 for Meet New People Monday. There are lots of pictures at that link, including self portraits and professional shots!
I will be appearing in, and assistant stage managing, the world premiere of Open Mind Firmament: An Evening of W. B. Yeats at Cleveland Public Theatre, May 13th through June 5th.
Click here for more information.
This is my new illustration based on the Family sketches from The Carol Burnett Show and the Mama’s Family series. The relationship between Mama and Eunice has fascinated me since childhood so I wanted to explore it a bit in this piece. I’m finding that a lot of the illustrations I have done or want to do deal with relationships.
On both shows, Thelma Harper (Mama) was played by Vicki Lawrence and Eunice Higgins, Mama’s daughter, was played by Carol Burnett. Both women are comedy gods to me. The sketches and series featured Betty White as Ellen, Mama’s eldest daughter, and Harvey Korman as Ed Higgins, Eunice’s husband. Check out YouTube for some great classic clips of these two ladies at work!
The Bionic Woman: Jaime
Also available as a t-shirt on RedBubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/t-shirts/4501091-2-jaime
The latest illustration in my Television Series is from I Dream of Jeannie: Coming, Master!
Buy direct from Ray:
It’s also available for purchase on RedBubble at the links below:
Greeting cards and postcards: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/art/4709685-2-coming-master
T-Shirt: http://www.redbubble.com/products/configure/16910266
A few weeks ago, I was given Seasons 1 and 2 of I Dream of Jeannie (Target has some great, inexpensive TV DVD two-packs!). We’ve been watching the series and we can’t believe how much we’re enjoying it!
Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman are perfect as Jeannie and Major Anthony (Tony) Nelson. Likewise with Hayden Rorke’s Col. Dr. Alfred Bellows and Bill Daily’s Major Roger Healey. The writing, especially on Sidney Sheldon’s episodes, has proven to be smart and laugh out loud funny.
As a kid, I caught the occasional episode of Jeannie, but I was more of a Bewitched fan then. Now that I’m older, I appreciate the adult humor and sexiness of I Dream of Jeannie that’s woven into every episode. Jeannie and Tony have a reciprocal loving relationship with neither superior to the other, unlike Darrin and Samantha. More often than not, Tony laughs at Jeannie’s tricks, which is so refreshing for a man on television of that time. I love the chemistry that Jeannie and Maj. Nelson had. They’re perfect for each other.
My goal with this illustration was to capture the fun and brightness of Jeannie, and show her with the joy that Barbara Eden imbued her with.
I’m going to continue to love the rest of the series and in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the prints and t-shirts of this piece!
I added several photographs I took at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to my RedBubble store. Take a look and hopefully you’ll buy one that you like!
