For this one, back in San Francisco in 1977, I provided text pieces to accompany two of Betsy’s dances: “Never” and “Frame.”  I also sang a couple of songs, and played some ambient piano music for the pre-show and post-show.  And I also drew the program, which I often did back then.

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Herbert Blau founded a theater company at Oberlin College in the 1970s. It was called Kraken; and in 1974 it toured a production based on the story of the Donner Party. I was a composition student at the Conservatory at the time, and contributed three songs.

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My first solo show in NYC, Pay Attention, was produced at the American Place Theatre in 1984, as part of their American Humorists Series.  The New York Times was rather sanguine about it, which was a relief.

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My adaptation of Collodi’s immortal Pinocchio was part of my 1985 show, An Attractive Production. My version included a ukulele, books, water, melon balls, a rubber fish, and irrelevant slides. Eddie Gray was cast as Pinocchio, much to his dismay. The incomparable Helen Dannenberg made a splendid Blue Fairy. I, of course, was Geppetto. These […]

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In the early ’80s, Bill Irwin, Michael O’Connor and I sometimes worked together under the name “Murdoch.” I don’t remember where the name came from; I think Bill may have dreamed it. In 1981, Bill and I played a run at the Mickery theater in Amsterdam under that name. The photos were by Bob van […]

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“We All Will Do the Hukilau in Heaven” was a bit of lyrical theology, envisioning heaven as a vacation in Hawaii. It was part of a show by Doug and Barb Roesch, American Excess, examining televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. It appeared at NYC’s Middle Collegiate Church in 1986. Barb Roesch did the choreography; […]

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The Regard of Flight was taped for the PBS series Great Performances in 1983. Here I am in a press photo with Bill Irwin, Michael O’Connor, and Eddie Gray.

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Adrian was Doug and Mike’s acting teacher in “Doug and Mike’s Adult Entertainment.” I made him; Carol Brys made his costume. All of his students were also in his group therapy sessions, which led to some complications. He sometimes appeared as Mr. Corndog, a costumed mascot for a corndog stand, that being his only acting […]

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In 2007, I was an artist in residence at NYC’s venerable downtown theater Dixon Place. I put together a program of musical curiosities, based on similar shows I’d done for the INFO FortFest and the Fortean Times UnConvention. The program included music by Rameau’s Nephew, Lewis Carroll, and the Count of Saint-Germain; an odd tune […]

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This DVD was published by 2nd Cannons in 2008; it collects performances and videos that Michael Smith and I did in the ’90s. The photos of Doug and Mike when they were younger are by the inimitable William Wegman. Our liner notes sum up the whole business as well as anything: And you can see […]

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