Thursday, August 30, 2012
Posts resume Saturday
Posts resume Saturday! I'm getting ready for Labor Day weekend tomorrow (Friday.)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Surrey: Death, Terry Pratchett's boss from hell
I shared this before but am sharing it again since time is coming near where the play makes its debut.
From the Surrey Comet: Death, Terry Pratchett's boss from hell
The wild, witty and inventive world of Terry Pratchett’s’ Discworld
brought to life in a musical fantasy will be hitting the stage in
Kingston.
Mort the Musical tells the story of an affable young man struggling to find a job who receives an offer he can’t refuse, to become Death’s apprentice.
There are perks, he doesn’t even need to be dead to take the position, but the awkward trainee soon starts to make mistakes, not least falling in love with a princess who should be dead.
The play, directed by Luke Sheppard and presented by Music Youth Theatre, will appeal to children of all ages, with much for parents to enjoy too.
Sorcery, magic, comedy and romance in one fabulous evening, Mort the Musical is one not to be missed – if only as a reminder that however tough your boss it can’t be worse than working for the grim reaper!
Mort the Musical, August 29 to September 1. £8-£25. More details at rosetheatre kingston.org or call 08444 821556.
From the Surrey Comet: Death, Terry Pratchett's boss from hell
Death, Terry Pratchett's boss from hell
Mort the Musical tells the story of an affable young man struggling to find a job who receives an offer he can’t refuse, to become Death’s apprentice.
There are perks, he doesn’t even need to be dead to take the position, but the awkward trainee soon starts to make mistakes, not least falling in love with a princess who should be dead.
The play, directed by Luke Sheppard and presented by Music Youth Theatre, will appeal to children of all ages, with much for parents to enjoy too.
Sorcery, magic, comedy and romance in one fabulous evening, Mort the Musical is one not to be missed – if only as a reminder that however tough your boss it can’t be worse than working for the grim reaper!
Mort the Musical, August 29 to September 1. £8-£25. More details at rosetheatre kingston.org or call 08444 821556.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Ireland’s Animation Hub working with Terry Pratchett on next animated short
From Silicon Republic: Ireland’s Animation Hub working with Terry Pratchett on next animated short
The Duel follows in the footsteps of the Animation Hub’s first animated short, the award-winning The Last Train.
Pratchett, the acclaimed fantasy novelist and adjunct professor of English at Trinity College, will work closely with Giant Creative on developing the story and its characters.
“The Duel is something new from something old,” he said. “Discworld is being borrowed by our students in the Animation Hub to produce a wholly new adventure, where some familiar elements from our world will appear, but not quite as we know them. It’s wonderful to see this type of project supported and made real – and we intend to have a lot of fun while we’re at it.”
Giant Creative will work with students from both institutions on the project, giving them the chance to experience working on a high-end project in a professional environment.
“It’s great to have the next Animation Hub project up and running with the valued support of the Irish Film Board,” said the programme leads from BCFE and TCD, Gareth Lee and David Lloyd. “The Duel is a very ambitious project that will provide great scope for many of our students across a range of disciplines to gain valuable professional experience.”
Notable Irish landmarks are said to feature in the unreal environments of the animated adventure, providing a distinctly local twist.
The Duel is scheduled to premiere early next year as part of the tercentenary celebrations of TCD’s Old Library.
The Animation Hub – a collaboration between the Irish School of
Animation at Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE), the
Creative Arts, Technology and Culture initiative at Trinity College
Dublin (TCD), and animation studio Giant Creative – is set to produce a
new animated short film set in the Unseen University of Terry
Pratchett’s Discworld, supported by funding from the Irish Film Board.
Pratchett, the acclaimed fantasy novelist and adjunct professor of English at Trinity College, will work closely with Giant Creative on developing the story and its characters.
“The Duel is something new from something old,” he said. “Discworld is being borrowed by our students in the Animation Hub to produce a wholly new adventure, where some familiar elements from our world will appear, but not quite as we know them. It’s wonderful to see this type of project supported and made real – and we intend to have a lot of fun while we’re at it.”
Giant Creative will work with students from both institutions on the project, giving them the chance to experience working on a high-end project in a professional environment.
“It’s great to have the next Animation Hub project up and running with the valued support of the Irish Film Board,” said the programme leads from BCFE and TCD, Gareth Lee and David Lloyd. “The Duel is a very ambitious project that will provide great scope for many of our students across a range of disciplines to gain valuable professional experience.”
Notable Irish landmarks are said to feature in the unreal environments of the animated adventure, providing a distinctly local twist.
The Duel is scheduled to premiere early next year as part of the tercentenary celebrations of TCD’s Old Library.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Theatre club takes to stage
From the Northumberland Gazette: Theatre club takes to stage
Alnwick Theatre Club is staging Terry Pratchett’s famous novel Wyrd Sisters for its 2012 summer show.
The play, based on the book by the master storyteller, has been adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs.
It is a tale from Pratchett’s famous Discworld series, featuring several of his classic characters, including the witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick.
These three witches must rise to the occasion when the ambitious Lord and Lady Felmet murder King Verence of Lancre and usurp his throne.
After Granny, Nanny and Magrat are handed a baby and crown, they are embroiled in a fantastic tale of demons, magic spells, actors, playwrights, love and destiny, in order to save the kingdom and put the right man on the throne.
Daniel Watkins, who is directing the play, is sure it will go down well with show-goers.
He said: “We think we have the makings of a very exciting and enjoyable show and it should be a treat for our audience. I have been a huge fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld for a number of years and when the opportunity arose for Alnwick Theatre Club to take on one of his classic books, I couldn’t resist.”
Playwright Stephen Briggs has adapted Pratchett’s original story into a stage show which stays very true to the original.
It features all the hilarious jokes, one-liners and cameo appearances that fans and aficionados will expect, while ensuring the play is accessible and just as much fun to those who have never picked up a Pratchett novel before.
Daniel added: “This adaptation of Wyrd Sisters by Stephen Briggs has everything that makes Pratchett, Pratchett – classic characters like Granny Weatherwax, hilarious minor characters like the Sergeant of the Guard, brilliant one-liners, plenty of plot twists and a fantastic story.”
Wyrd Sisters features a huge list of characters and the cast has risen to the occasion, with many reading the novel between rehearsals in order to get the measure of their characters.
Several cast members will also have to cope with multiple speedy costume changes, which is sure to make for an impressive spectacle on stage.
Club chairman Peter Biggers said: “Taking on a large cast play or at least a play with a large amount of characters like Wyrd Sisters can be both a challenge and an opportunity for a relatively small troupe of thespians such as ourselves.
“Daniel, in choosing to stage the play, has created a great opportunity for the club which has attracted a number of new members to join us.
“Despite the injection of new blood, there is still the challenge of covering the large number of colourful characters in Wyrd Sisters. However, the added comedy that arises out of doubling and the rapid character and costume changes that result is what makes the production for me.”
While the club has welcomed new recruits, it is also saying a fond farewell to Jade Curran and Hannah Firth who are taking their final club curtain calls – for the time being at least – before moving away to study law and contemporary theatre/performance respectively.
Alnwick Theatre Club is staging Terry Pratchett’s famous novel Wyrd Sisters for its 2012 summer show.
The play, based on the book by the master storyteller, has been adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs.
It is a tale from Pratchett’s famous Discworld series, featuring several of his classic characters, including the witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlick.
These three witches must rise to the occasion when the ambitious Lord and Lady Felmet murder King Verence of Lancre and usurp his throne.
After Granny, Nanny and Magrat are handed a baby and crown, they are embroiled in a fantastic tale of demons, magic spells, actors, playwrights, love and destiny, in order to save the kingdom and put the right man on the throne.
Daniel Watkins, who is directing the play, is sure it will go down well with show-goers.
He said: “We think we have the makings of a very exciting and enjoyable show and it should be a treat for our audience. I have been a huge fan of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld for a number of years and when the opportunity arose for Alnwick Theatre Club to take on one of his classic books, I couldn’t resist.”
Playwright Stephen Briggs has adapted Pratchett’s original story into a stage show which stays very true to the original.
It features all the hilarious jokes, one-liners and cameo appearances that fans and aficionados will expect, while ensuring the play is accessible and just as much fun to those who have never picked up a Pratchett novel before.
Daniel added: “This adaptation of Wyrd Sisters by Stephen Briggs has everything that makes Pratchett, Pratchett – classic characters like Granny Weatherwax, hilarious minor characters like the Sergeant of the Guard, brilliant one-liners, plenty of plot twists and a fantastic story.”
Wyrd Sisters features a huge list of characters and the cast has risen to the occasion, with many reading the novel between rehearsals in order to get the measure of their characters.
Several cast members will also have to cope with multiple speedy costume changes, which is sure to make for an impressive spectacle on stage.
Club chairman Peter Biggers said: “Taking on a large cast play or at least a play with a large amount of characters like Wyrd Sisters can be both a challenge and an opportunity for a relatively small troupe of thespians such as ourselves.
“Daniel, in choosing to stage the play, has created a great opportunity for the club which has attracted a number of new members to join us.
“Despite the injection of new blood, there is still the challenge of covering the large number of colourful characters in Wyrd Sisters. However, the added comedy that arises out of doubling and the rapid character and costume changes that result is what makes the production for me.”
While the club has welcomed new recruits, it is also saying a fond farewell to Jade Curran and Hannah Firth who are taking their final club curtain calls – for the time being at least – before moving away to study law and contemporary theatre/performance respectively.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Terry Pratchett illustrator Paul Kidby's Discworld and Beyond at the St Barbe Museum
From Culture 24: Terry Pratchett illustrator Paul Kidby's Discworld and Beyond at the St Barbe Museum
It started in 1995, with The Pratchett Portfolio, and was cemented in the Tourist Guide to the mystical world of Lancre, three years later.
Then there was Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook, Death's Domain Map, The Discworld Thieves Guild Diary and this year’s Discworld calendar.
For the past 18 years, Paul Kidby has taken on the nigh-on overwhelming task of illustrating Terry Pratchett’s imagined universe.
In a treat for fans of the books and intricately-detailed graphic art, this masterclass features those bestselling covers and adornments.
Rincewind, the Wee Free Men, Death, witches, wizards, dragons and trolls all appear along the way.
Kidby, who started out as a freelancer during the mid-1980s, is unsurprisingly influenced by British folklore and landscapes, and his own works include fairie paintings.
Their appearance at St Barbe may owe something to his own earthly surroundings. The artist has his home and studio in the nearby New Forest area.
It started in 1995, with The Pratchett Portfolio, and was cemented in the Tourist Guide to the mystical world of Lancre, three years later.
Then there was Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook, Death's Domain Map, The Discworld Thieves Guild Diary and this year’s Discworld calendar.
For the past 18 years, Paul Kidby has taken on the nigh-on overwhelming task of illustrating Terry Pratchett’s imagined universe.
In a treat for fans of the books and intricately-detailed graphic art, this masterclass features those bestselling covers and adornments.
Rincewind, the Wee Free Men, Death, witches, wizards, dragons and trolls all appear along the way.
Kidby, who started out as a freelancer during the mid-1980s, is unsurprisingly influenced by British folklore and landscapes, and his own works include fairie paintings.
Their appearance at St Barbe may owe something to his own earthly surroundings. The artist has his home and studio in the nearby New Forest area.
- Open 10am-4pm (closed Sunday). Admission £2-£4 (free for under-5s, family ticket £10).
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Sir Terry's Lords and Ladies coins in the cash for Alzheimer's
From This is the West Country : Sir Terry's Lords and Ladies coins in the cash for Alzheimer's
The outdoor touring production was a brand new adaptation of Sir Terry Pratchett’s Lords and Ladies performed at beautiful outdoor venues across Somerset.
The comic fantasy was very popular with audiences in spite of the unseasonably wet and cold weather.
Mark Dawson, chairman of Taunton Thespians, said: “When Sir Terry very sportingly gave the Thespians permission to adapt one of his novels for our summer show, we wanted to find a way to say thanks.
"Since his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, Sir Terry has done so much to raise awareness about the disease.
“We decided to ask our audiences at the end of each performance to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society. People were very generous and I was thrilled to be able to pass the takings onto the Alzheimer’s Society towards their excellent work.”
The Thespians are now busy starting work on their autumn production, Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor, which will be produced at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre from November 13 to November 17.
Tickets are already on sale at tacchi-morris.com, priced £10 for a standard ticket and £3 for students/children/unwaged.
For more information about the show, visit tauntonthespians.org.uk
THEATRE lovers in Somerset dug deep into their pockets to donate more than £290 to the Alzheimer’s Society after enjoying performances of the Taunton Thespians’ recent summer show.
The outdoor touring production was a brand new adaptation of Sir Terry Pratchett’s Lords and Ladies performed at beautiful outdoor venues across Somerset.
The comic fantasy was very popular with audiences in spite of the unseasonably wet and cold weather.
Mark Dawson, chairman of Taunton Thespians, said: “When Sir Terry very sportingly gave the Thespians permission to adapt one of his novels for our summer show, we wanted to find a way to say thanks.
"Since his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, Sir Terry has done so much to raise awareness about the disease.
“We decided to ask our audiences at the end of each performance to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society. People were very generous and I was thrilled to be able to pass the takings onto the Alzheimer’s Society towards their excellent work.”
The Thespians are now busy starting work on their autumn production, Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor, which will be produced at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre from November 13 to November 17.
Tickets are already on sale at tacchi-morris.com, priced £10 for a standard ticket and £3 for students/children/unwaged.
For more information about the show, visit tauntonthespians.org.uk
Monday, August 13, 2012
Ireland: Trinity library gets animated for Pratchett film
From Independent IE: Trinity library gets animated for Pratchett film
THE library of Trinity College and other Dublin landmarks will feature in a new animation, which science fiction writer Terry Pratchett is collaborating on, along with Irish students.
'The Duel' is a production by the Animation Hub -- a collaboration between staff and students of Ballyfermot College and Trinity College, Dublin, animation studio Giant Creative, and Pratchett.
The short film, which centres around a duel between two wizards, received a huge publicity boost this week when Pratchett tweeted about it to his 63,000 followers on Twitter.
Pratchett, who was knighted in 2009 for his contribution to literature, has come up with the story for the production and will be writing the script.
"Most of the duel between the wizards takes place in Trinity College's Old Library which is one of Terry's favourite places. We expect lots of other locations in Trinity to be included in the animation film," Gareth Lee of Ballyfermot College said.
Pratchett's close relationship with Trinity College began in December 2008 when he was conferred with an honorary degree. Since then the relationship has deepened, with Colin Smythe, Pratchett's literary agent, donating a complete back catalogue of the writer's published translations to the college library in 2009.
Along with using Trinity as a setting, the project will give students from the university and Ballyfermot College the opportunity to work on the animated film penned by the writer best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels.
Talking about the project, Pratchett said: "It's wonderful to see this type of project supported and made real -- and we intend to have a lot of fun while we're at it."
'The Duel', which builds on the success of the Animation Hub's first short, 'The Last Train', will premiere early next year as part of the Tercentenary Celebrations of Trinity College's Old Library.
THE library of Trinity College and other Dublin landmarks will feature in a new animation, which science fiction writer Terry Pratchett is collaborating on, along with Irish students.
'The Duel' is a production by the Animation Hub -- a collaboration between staff and students of Ballyfermot College and Trinity College, Dublin, animation studio Giant Creative, and Pratchett.
The short film, which centres around a duel between two wizards, received a huge publicity boost this week when Pratchett tweeted about it to his 63,000 followers on Twitter.
Pratchett, who was knighted in 2009 for his contribution to literature, has come up with the story for the production and will be writing the script.
"Most of the duel between the wizards takes place in Trinity College's Old Library which is one of Terry's favourite places. We expect lots of other locations in Trinity to be included in the animation film," Gareth Lee of Ballyfermot College said.
Pratchett's close relationship with Trinity College began in December 2008 when he was conferred with an honorary degree. Since then the relationship has deepened, with Colin Smythe, Pratchett's literary agent, donating a complete back catalogue of the writer's published translations to the college library in 2009.
Along with using Trinity as a setting, the project will give students from the university and Ballyfermot College the opportunity to work on the animated film penned by the writer best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels.
Talking about the project, Pratchett said: "It's wonderful to see this type of project supported and made real -- and we intend to have a lot of fun while we're at it."
'The Duel', which builds on the success of the Animation Hub's first short, 'The Last Train', will premiere early next year as part of the Tercentenary Celebrations of Trinity College's Old Library.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
60 is the new 40
I've been sharing this post on all my blogs... kind of poignant on this one, with the still very young Terry Pratchett - the genius - afflicted by early-onset Alzheimers. Well..there are a variety of factors for one getting Alheimers. You can't say Pratchett didn't keep his mind active, and yet still he got it. But for "early-onset" you've got to think there's some genetic reason...and for people without that genetic reason, keeping your mind active with keep that awful, awful disease at bay.
On August 10, 2012, the Cheyenne chapter of the AARP hosted a seminar called Gray Matters - which was free and provided a free lunch - unfortunately fish and cheesecake, blech - from 4 to 6 was a reception for all travelers who had come in for the AARP National Spelling Bee to be held on the 11th.
I attended that and it was a lot of fun. The emcee introduced a few folks, we talked about words, there was a "mock" spelling bee (which only consisted of about 20 people getting up and being questioned on one word...) and so on. And there were finger foods there - Chinese food to be precise. Don't know where they got it from or if they cooked it on site (Little America is a hotel and resort where people come to play golf among other things) but it was delish.
The spelling bee started at the ungodly hour of 8:30 am (Well...8:30 is not so ungodly but I had to get up at the ungodly hour of 6:30 to get there in time for registration, etc.) It started with 4 rounds of 25 words each - which was a Written Test.
The first 25 words were extremely easy. They asked words like "Greetings" and "Navel" and "Mince." I suppose a few might have been considered difficult... "Animus" and "Lacuna."
The second 25 words were equally easy, but I did miss MUGWUMP.
I assume they did this just to help everyone settle the nerves and get new people used to what was going on. People had trouble hearing some of the words (hey, they were all over 50 and most over 60) and the Pronouncer would come down and tell them the word face to face and have them say it back, etc. Indeed, the Pronouncer did an excellent job.
Third round was where they started asking the difficult words.
I missed:
QUESTIONARY INERCALATE
TUATARA
SKOSH
VIRIDITY
WIMBLE
The fourth round was the real killer. I only got 12 out of 25 right. I missed:
FELICIFIC
DOVEKIE
FLYTING
NAPERY
COTYLEDONARY
WELTSCHMERRZ
OPPUGNER
AECIOSPORE
SYNCYTIAL
KNUR
IRIDIUM
TUYERE
HYOSCYAMINE
I then stayed for the Oral rounds and was joined by one of my friends from my Scrabble Club. (I think an audience could have assembled for the Written rounds, too. There were chairs there and family were in them...but I think most people only wanted to come see the Oral rounds where you actually saw the speller's faces as opposed to their backs, etc.)
Two of the people I met last night at the reception made it to the Orals. One of them it was his first trip to the Bee and he was successful his first time out. Made it through about 10 rounds. (In the Orals, you miss two words and you're out.) Another one was an elderly woman from Minnesota who also got through about 10 rounds before being knocked out.
There were three sisters and a brother who had come as a sort of family reunion. The eldest sister made it to the Oral rounds but was bounced after only two rounds. This was too bad and it was because she was a bit unlucky - she got two 6-syllable words in a row while some of the others were getting much easier ones (but still, not ones I could have spelled). But she was disqualified along with several other people in the same round, so hopefully she didn't feel too bad.
The words in the Oral Rounds were extremely difficult. Several times more difficult than the toughest words in the final round of the Written.
But, had I studied for a year, I think I could have handled them.
And it is my intention to study for a year and get into the Orals next year.
So, why is the title of this blog entry 60 is thenew 40?
Because it is.
People are living longer. You don't want to outlive your money and more importantly you don't want to outlive your sense of enjoyment of life. And learning new things every day is enjoyment and keeps the mind active.
The AARP Spelling Bee is held every year, and it gives you an excellent reason to travel to Cheyenne and see The Cowboy State. You'll meet lots of interesting people.
You do have to study.
I studied very desultorily for about a month...combine all the time I studied and it was about 10 hours. Not nearly enough, but then, I'm a good speller so the Written Rounds were relatively easy - except for that killer last round.
Why learn words that you'll never, ever say in real life?Well, because they're interesting. And the concepts of what you'll learn, you can apply in other areas. So it's a win win.
So start planning to live a long, healthy, active, intellectual life, and do it now, however old you might be!
Friday, August 10, 2012
No posts today
I'm participating in the AARP Spelling Bee held in Cheyenne on
Saturday, Aug 11. Today, Friday, there's a day-long "orientation," talk
about keeping active, and mock spelling bee, and I want to attend it.
Will let you know on Sunday how I did...I'm not expecting to win but I do hope to get out of the writtens into the orals. There are 60 participants which must be whittled down to 15 - done so by 4 rounds of 25 written words each. I should be able to beat out 45 people to get on to that platform for the oral round, even if I lose on the first question!
Well, we'll see.
Will let you know on Sunday how I did...I'm not expecting to win but I do hope to get out of the writtens into the orals. There are 60 participants which must be whittled down to 15 - done so by 4 rounds of 25 written words each. I should be able to beat out 45 people to get on to that platform for the oral round, even if I lose on the first question!
Well, we'll see.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
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