They gave you life. And in return you gave them hell.

That was incredible. At first I was a little irritated, the air was so comfortable this morning, and now quite brisk - but perfect-brisk, with a little tailwind (thanks for sending that my way, Boston Marathon People) and I was utterly flying.

Good Lord, I have been wanting to run all week. I had a sudden, mild back spasm on Monday (more on that here) and there just wasn't much to do about that except swallow ibuprofen, take hot baths and stretch. Today was perfect timing to run, I guess.

Three more performances, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. I had no idea the run would be so emotional for me, but it is, and in ways I did not expect. I even have ideas how to cut more time out of And Then You Die, but that can wait for another day.

Still. You know. Minnesota.

1985 Playlist
Take Me Home - Phil Collins
Kiss Me On The Bus (164 bpm) - the Replacements
Some People - Belouis Some
Something About You - Level 42
Baby Screams - The Cure
We Care A Lot - Faith No More
Can't Get There From Here - R.E.M.
I Must Confess - Everything But The Girl
Tambourine - Prince & The Revolution
Running Up That Hill (12" mix) - Kate Bush
Shout - Tears For Fears

Distance: 5.15 miles
Temperature: 48º
Weather: spirited!
Weight: 168 lbs.

beats back death

"A thoughtful, endearing, and heartfelt performance." - CLE+
Distance: 5.15 miles
Temperature: 52º
Weather: delightful!
Weight: 168 lbs.

Anxiety. Uncertainty. And a lot of cheese curls. Damn you, Dan Dee.

1995 Playlist
Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Mix) - Rob D
Army of Me (171 bpm) - Björk
Where's Summer B? - Ben Folds Five
Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Hello - Poe
In the Meantime (168 bpm) - Spacehog
Jaded (157 bpm) - Green Day
I'll Be There For You - The Rembrandts
The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) (163 bpm) - Liz Phair with Material Issue
The Heart's Filthy Lesson - David Bowie

I'm gonna make somebody love me.

Thanks, Ali!
Emotional withdrawal, the heightened sense of tension and excitement that comes with the dawn of a new endeavor, getting to the beginning, what will it be, what will happen, followed by the, well, there it is. Okay. What next?

Houses have been small. Productions like these count on word of mouth. My mouth has been open an screaming for attention for weeks now. I am still a little surprised, and disappointed, by turnout. We "opened" last night. There were maybe 12 people in the house.

The cleveland.com review was, indeed, in the print edition of The Plain Dealer. The Saturday edition, which no one actually reads. It is difficult to build word of mouth when there are so few mouths to speak.

My house in empty this morning, they all (wife included) spent the night at a friends' house. Went grocery shopping. Made coffee. Feeling depressed. Nothing to do but go running.

Distance: 5.15 miles
Temperature: 63º
Weather: incredible!
Weight: 168 lbs.

Well. That put things into perspective. Moving through space, warm air, deep breaths, sweat, bright light. Time to accomplish mighty works.

Next performance: Tomorrow night! Yes! Monday!

2005 Playlist
Sixteen Military Wives - The Decemberists
Bound Too Long (Hyper Mix) - The Crystal Method
That's How I Know - D'Nell
Every Day Is Exactly The Same - Nine Inch Nails
Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge
Water of Nazareth - Justice
Solsbury Hill (12" Version) - Erasure
Summer Skin - Death Cab For Cutie
Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand

Hmn. 2005. Boring.

The continuing story of the skinny little boy ...

'I Hate This'/'And Then You Die' at Cleveland Public Theatre: The first is brilliant, second pales
By Christine Howey, cleveland.com
It's too bad the title "The Agony and the Ecstasy" has been taken, for it might accurately describe the journey David Hansen wants to take his audience on in his solo one-acts: "I Hate This" followed by "And Then You Die." (more)

Go ahead. Read it. Then come to the show tonight. The whole thing is awesome.

1976 Playlist
Cherry Bomb - The Runaways
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Let's Dance - The Ramons
More, More, More - Andre True
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John w/Kiki Dee
Golden Years - David Bowie
Skinny - Alex Bevan

Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 42 minutes
Pace: 8.4 min/mile
Temperature: 54º
Weather: bright awesomeness
Weight: 168 lbs.

We're only living this instant.

Took a personal day to rest, drink tea and run lines. And run.

1986 Playlist
Left of Center - Suzanne Vega
Puzzlin' Evidence (156 bpm) - Talking Heads
Throwing It All Away - Genesis
Tokyo Storm Warning (159 bpm) - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Peter Gunn Theme (The Twang Mix) - The Art of Noise
Christopher Tracy's Parade - Prince
Paranomia - The Art of Noise


Show opens tonight. Come see it.

Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 32 minutes
Pace: 8 min/mile
Temperature: 41º
Weather: bright. perfect.
Weight: 166 lbs.

Reluctantly crouched at the starting line ...

1996 Playlist
Standing Ouside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hands - Primitive Radio Gods
Tombstone (176 bpm) - Suzanne Vega
Got My Own Thing Now - Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Distance - Cake
The New Pollution - Beck
Broken English - Queue Up
Bazamba - Sister Soleil
Talk Show Host - Radiohead
Collapse (157 bpm) - Soul Coughing

Distance: 4 miles
Temperature: 41º
Weather: rainy
Weight: 169.5 lbs.

Gained weight ... but my pants fit. It's not about the weight. It's where you put it.

Final dress tonight.

You either got it or you don't.

Put Those Shoes On: Running Won't Kill Your Knees
NPR 3/29/2011
In one study, Swedish researchers found that exercise, including jogging, may even be beneficial. Felson describes how researchers took one group of people at risk of osteoarthritis and had them engage in exercise, including jogging. The other group didn't exercise. After imaging the joints of the participants in both study groups, they found that the biochemistry of cartilage actually appeared to improve in those participants who were running. Felson says that suggests that "running is actually healthy for the joint."

Imagine my relief.

Going over both plays in my head while running, they become one. Little similarities bounce back and forth ... things I had not noticed. In case of emergency I have a pager in 2001, a cellphone in 2006. I have not run in two weeks, over two weeks. This makes me sad. It cannot be helped, there is no time. But my heart beats peaceably, my breathing is regular, I feel good. I feel very good.



Today is a full-day technical rehearsal. Multimedia is in a really good place, thanks to Mr. Josh. Did I mention he is designing two shows which open on the same day? I hope everyone appreciates that. Josh Brown is awesome.

Josh-hawk (not Josh) and the crew were taking care of lighting yesterday (I had something like a day off) and we put it all together today. That is some kind of good place to be.

2006 Playlist - All Timbaland, All The Time
My Love - Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
Wound Up - Office
Upside Down - Jack Johnson
Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
Munich - Editors
Ankle Injuries - Fujiya & Miyagi
Say It Right - Nelly Furtado
Mass Repeat (Extended 12" Version) - Gabriel & Dresden
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

Distance: 5.15 miles
Temperature: 37º
Weather: awesome.
Weight: 168 lbs.