Doug Paulson

“I think that Vietnam is what we had instead of a happy childhood.”

Last month I worked on a recording of the musical Dispatches written by Elizabeth Swados.  It’s based on the book of the same name by Michael Herr.   It’s about war.  It’s rock music.  It’s really fuckin’ cool.

Naked Angels heard the recording and they’re now producing a concert version of the show next Friday night.  Please come support us!  May 30th.  7pm.  It’s free.  The New School for Drama.  151 Bank St.

To make a reservation send an e-mail to info@nakedangels.com.

If you haven’t been to see the New York City Ballet, go now. Seriously. Hop in a cab and say “Lincoln Center! On the double!” Here’s why. They’re currently running a season of Jerome Robbins’ work which is not to be missed. Last night I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Watermill and The Four Seasons.

My first ballet (insert gushy romantic sigh here).

Truly the dancers were breathtaking. The music was wonderful. Even the building itself is an enormous jewel box made of diamonds and silver beads. You really should see it. I know I’ll never forget it.

But don’t go alone. I discovered how much fun it is with someone there to help you chug your beer at intermission.

What exactly is it about being in the vicinity of someone to whom I am borderline uncontrollably attracted, that turns me into a complete ass? Is it chemical? Am I mental?

Whatever it is. I suffer from it. Hardcore. I stumble over my words. I make really bad jokes. I can’t make up my mind. I linger in the enjoyment of knowing he’s nearby with no reason to stay other than to postpone the inevitable parting that I alone find harder to endure than necessary.

It’s worth noting that I’m sure I’m not fooling anyone (him). And what’s worse really, than pretending to be in control, when all the energy I give off tells an entirely different story? I can, in the moment, delude myself into thinking I’m doing a stellar job of playing it cool, when in fact my pulse is racing and my eyes can’t stop smiling.

Will someone just slap me in the face and tell me to relax? I can’t seem to do it myself. The first and major symptom of aktlikamoronitis: I act like a fucking moron. Curses.

Of course, maybe I’m just over reacting. Another dastardly side-effect. I lose all sense and reason. And then I go home and write about it for the world to read in some weird post-Catholic-stress disorder, guilt-ridden, confession sort of way.

Totally hoping he’ll read it.

And find it completely endearing.

I love the spring.

Below you’ll see two pictures. One is of the outside of my left leg, and one is the outside of my right leg. The left leg (conveniently on the left) is how my leg should look (and usually does) all the time. On the right you’ll see how my leg looks after the nasty fall I took on Friday night coming down a set of metal stairs from being out on a roof in the rain. Rubber soled sneakers with little traction apparently don’t stick well to painted steel when there exists a thin layer of moisture between the two. Landing on your outer thigh with your full weight on the edge of a step isn’t necessarily the best way to fall, though considering I stopped myself from plummeting head first down the remainder of the flight, I’m happy.

Ice (well a bag of frozen corn truth be told) is helping the swelling go down. It’s gone from about the size of a grapefruit to say, a baseball. But for the past two nights I’ve not been able to sleep on my right side, which unfortunately is my side of choice. Sitting is an entirely a new challenge.

I’m interested to see how long it will last. If I’m bored enough I’ll keep you posted on the progress. Which I’m sure you’re thrilled about. And let’s leave the comments about my sexy red underwear to the appropriate forums of …oh what the hell, say whatever you want.

Whenever I find myself with a few hours to spare between engagements that require me to stay in the city, it seems my favorite thing to do is help keep the economy thriving by investing my hard earned dollars into clothing I neither need nor can afford. I simply feel the urge to do my part to help these good old United States of ours avoid the next recession.

Today’s lucky recipient of my well intentioned frivolity was Uni-Qlo on Broadway in SoHo. My bank account hates me, sure, but my closet LOVES me. And though half of what I purchased is borderline inappropriate until Spring kicks into full swing, I’m already sporting one of my new looks. Yay.

With my 2007 tax return still left to file, I figure it’s not a real huge problem that I’m now a couple hundred dollars poorer than I was just three short hours ago. I swear, you can’t let me out of the house with spare time and a credit card. Unless you work in retail of course.

No, I’m not reminding you to read, though you should…often (in fact I’m reading a great book right now called “At Swim, Two Boys” by Jamie O’Neal, check it out).

I’m reminding you that you should come to the reading I’m acting in on Monday night February 4th at 8pm. It’s part of the id Theatre Company’s benefit party! A reading AND a PARTY?!? Imagine that!!

Linhart Theater - 440 Lafayette Street

(@ Astor Pl, across the street from the Public)

It’ll be a ton of fun and great to see you there! You can get more information on the benefit (including admission prices) at http://sevendevils.org/benefitpage.htm

See you there!

Hey everyone. Broad Channel was a great success. We had a wonderful turn out and the play went over really well. Fun fun fun.

Tomorrow night (sorry for the short notice I just found out myself) I’ll be doing a reading of a new play titled “White Baby” as part of NYU’s HotInk Festival. The reading begins at 7:30pm in the Tisch Building at 721 Broadway. Good news…it’s FREE!! So come. You’ll like it.

The second reading will be at a benefit for iD Theatre and the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference which I have been lucky enough to be a part of the past two summers. I’ll post up the details for that benefit soon, Right now, all I know is that it will be on Monday Feb 4th, so consider this your “save the date” notice….invitation to follow.

Come join the fun, have a beer, hear a play, say hello.

Broad Channel 
by James Bosley
A painting hangs in the living room since Dad brought it home from WWII. But you get laid off. It’s desperate times in Queens. You put the painting up on ebay. Big mistake.

Date: Monday, January 21st 2008
Time: 6pm
Location: Jimmy’s No. 43
43 E. 7th Street Downstairs – Manhattan (between 3rd and 2nd Avenues)
No admission charge – but one drink minimum per person
Stay afterward as we informally discuss the play over drinks and dinner

So for Christmas this year from a handful of my students, I received a picture of all of them naked. Sort of. Hmmm….

I’m sure they didn’t believe me when I told them the photo would go promptly on my Christmas mantle for the season, right beside the Christmas Gnome, but here’s the proof I promised. So Melissa, Ben, Eve, Richie, Will, Carolyn, Annie, Connor, Rachel, Julia and Vincent, if you’re reading this… See, told ya.

Alyssa Milano.

I do love my job.  Happy Holidays indeed.

Readingground Blogazine is a project of breedingground productions.

I’ve been writing for Readingground for 3 years now.  Today, my newest article is posted on-line.  I’ve been experiencing a few gliches with the links from the breedingground homepage though and noticed a few formatting mishaps, so if you’re having trouble finding/seeing it and would like to read it, you can click on the word Readingground on the top of this site and it will take you there.

I hope to post a few more of my older pieces in the next week so if you’ve never read Readingground, you can catch up on all you’ve missed.  As always, I’m happy to hear what you think.  You may learn more about me than you ever wanted to know.  Spread the word.