Gone but Not Forgotten!

A sad tragic thing happened in the McGurgan household today.

I broke my favorite coffee mug! Only a true coffee person gets what a sad thing this is! I don't drink alcohol so coffee is the closest thing I have to a drug in my life!

Goodbye Sweet Friend...

Nominees- Best Supporting Actor

All these men are great chameleons! They are able to play many different types of characters! Some have been in the scene for a while and some are newer to us. They obviously have large fan bases because so many of you voted for them we had a tie and had to have 6 nominees! And there is a funny story about one of their nominations, please keep reading... I don't have show photos for all the gentlemen so I'm doing my best by subbing with show posters. Nominees, if you send me a show photo later I will come back and edit the post with time willing.

I'm doing these articles in my free time. They are very time consuming. Thanks to all the artists who have sent me photos of themselves. I will get to all of your categories as quickly as I'm working as quickly as I can. Thanks!

Nominees- Best Designer

These are the nomination for Best Designer. We have a couple set designers, a couple production designers, a lighting designer. All aspects of design are an important part of the theatre experience. These people (included myself, thanks for nominating me!) work hard in a town where spaces are expensive, we don't get a lot of time for cue to cues and we work on really small budgets. Show some techie love!

Nominees- Best Musical

Now, I did not see all the wonderful nominees that you all voted for! But obviously they made some kind of impression because this was the category that we had the most nominations in! You all must love your musicals! I don't have show photos of all the nominees but I do have some links to some helpful articles, reviews and some youtube videos! Thanks Satoshi for letting me link to your reviews, somebody loves their musicals... Hopefully this will help you all in making your decision if you're having issues deciding.

Review- Talking With- Aurora Theatre

Tonight I was invited to the preview of Talking With by Jane Martin. It is being presented by Aurora Theatre this Sunday at Grappa's Cellar at 2pm and 8pm, 200HKD. Before there was The Vagina Monologues there was this collection of women's monologues so I was excited to see what all the fuss was about.

If you saw Coffee and Cigarettes back in October you saw two pieces performed from this play. The monologue French Fries was performed by Faith Lawson who is now nominated for a Best Bit Role in the HK Arts Awards so obviously she left an impression. Miss Lawson will not be in this production as she has sadly left HK to return to NYC. Jenny Hann who performed Rodeo in October will also be in this new production but will be taking on a triple threat role as both an actress, co-producer and costume designer. If you liked what you saw in October you'll love what you'll see Sunday!

Best Charity Production Nominees

I don't have show photos for all these nominees! But I have all the posters which should help jog your memory on what the experience was like! What matters about these productions is that portions of the proceeds from these productions went to help great charities! Combining Art with a great cause should be encouraged and one of these great shows should be rewarded for all the hard work they did helping others through their craft. This awards process is supposed to be fun! I wanted to reward people for all their hard work all year long! Don't take it all that seriously people, it's not a bomb...

Best Local Visual Artist Nominees

Here are the nominees for best local artist. Since we didn't get enough nominations for the category I tried to pick a variety of mediums for you to pick between. We have a gallery manager, a zine artist/graphic designer, a sculptor, a urban sketch artist and a multi-media artist. Pick your poison or pick one at random. All are valid mediums and all are up and coming artists in the scene. You can always find out about new and upcoming local artists on Hong Kong Art Web, which is one of the best sources for local artists to display their work. Here are just some samples of their work but you can always find out more about these artists via their own personal websites and blogs! Just google them, la!

Best Show Nominees

Best Show Nominees!

I couldn't find a photo online of Iron but I was able to find a youtube promo.

All of these photos belong to the artists who helped create these productions. They are in no way my property I'm just loading them up here to help people who are asking to see examples of the work. Please use these as tools to help you make your decisions on who to vote for!

Best Band Nominees

To help people who are having trouble picking people in the music category. 

Here are the youtubes for the Best Band Nominees. Give them a listen and make yourself knowledgeable of some of the best local talent in the music industry in Hong Kong. We tried to pick different genres and styles when we picked our selection. I believe it is good to observe and learn new things every day as an artist. Experience something new today courtesy of me! If you don't like any of them then pick one at random! (You can always pick No One Remains a Virgin for having an awesome name!!!)

 YOU MUST VOTE IN EVERY CATEGORY!
 Just like people do in the Academy and at the Tonies and at the Grammys. Do you really think 50 cent knows much about the bluegrass albums? NO! But he votes for them!) Do you research. Ignorance is NOT Bliss despite what they say!

Online Voting Starts Today!

Link for Part One of the Awards!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8VSDWPR

Part Two...
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/876KL3C

You can only vote once in each category and you may only vote for one person! Votes are always welcome by email at meaghan.mcgurgan@gmail.com or PMed to the facebook account if you would prefer.

VOTING CLOSES JUNE 10th!

Nominations for HK Arts: Best of Hong Kong 2011-2012

THE PUBLIC HAS CAST THEIR BALLOTS AND DECIDED WHO IS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN HONG KONG'S ART SCENE...  DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!

Below are the nominations for HK Arts: Best of Hong Kong 2011-2012. This was an open nomination process. We had hundreds of emails sent to us by members of the community. Although a lot of people just seemed to be nominating themselves (you know who you are), most of you took some serious thought about who you thought were the best. I deeply appreciate the time it took for you to fill the nomination form out. I know it was tough because when I filled mine out it was a arduous task.

Ballots were not only counted by me but by an outside source not associated with the art community. The nominees are listed in no particular order. We would love to have photos for the blog of any nominated show. If we are Facebook friends could you please tag us so we can upload them? It is for a future article so that people can make informed voting decisions.

Three categories did not have 5 artists nominated in them: Local Band, Local Visual Artist and Best Reoccurring Audience Member. I find this to be a little sad that people don't know 5 local visual artists/musicians so I took it upon myself to fill in the missing gaps to make it five. Do your part and research them before the voting begins! We were only missing one nomination in Audience Member category so I filled it in with something I know we all love and cherish in our community. *please tell me you can read sarcasm!*

Rules

An online poll will up in a few days hopefully! But you are always welcome to turn in your votes via email. You may vote once only and for one person in each category. Votes will be counted not only by me but by my outside source. Winners will be announced in June.

Backstage Live- More like Backstab Live

Recently, I performed for the first time in Backstage Live, a small venue in LKF with The Vixens. It was our first full length cabaret and we were looking for a venue with liquor and a stage in the same room. A tough thing to find in HK that isn't completely overpriced!!! We were first impressed by the venue for it's cheap price, great location and great manager Joanna. She was lovely and helpful. (Still is. This review is no reflection on her because she was one of the few highlights of the experience at the venue.) For Hong Kong this venue is very well priced. You pay a small fee up front and put a deposit on the bar tab. If the bar tab is reached then you get the bar tab deposit back. We were excited to perform here and even more excited when we SOLD OUT our show completely. The night before the show we were given 20 minutes to walk around the venue. We talked a minute to the lovely Joanna and talked about the Sold Out venue and the need for 82 seats. The owner of the venue happened to be in the room at the time. "82! How are 82 people going to fit in here?"

This should have been our first sign on what was going to be a good show but a generally negative venue experience.

Review- California Suite- Sweet and Sour Productions

Tonight I attended Sweet and Sour's presentation of Neil Simon's California Suite. Neil Simon is the bread and butter of comedy in America. We are raised and spoon fed him as the base of all that is good about quintessential American Comedy. California Suite was written in 1976 and is VERY seventies. I was discussing with my friends in the audience about how I think pieces from the seventies should be considered period pieces now. A lot of the pop culture jokes in California Suite no longer translate as funny especially to a Hong Kong audience because they have no idea who these people are... When California Suite debuted it was received to mixed reviews. Some people raved about it as it was considered the unofficial sequel to his previous hit Plaza Suite and some people panned it. One reviewer from the New York Times even called it "Sleazy and shoddily constructed" OUCH... No need for such tough words tonight as I thought my evening with Sweet and Sour was very sweet.

Getting all Political Up in Here

I never make those silly things with the photos and the captions. I love a good witty e-card though. Just ask Matty. I'm always sending him terrible ones. So I felt the urge for the first time to make one today. I don't know why. I guess because of all the flack my dear President has been getting. And because I'm waiting patiently for the day when all my friends can get married.

Also I love a good pun. Back to the writing. See you all tonight if you're going to be at the gallery opening. I'll have tickets for Snow! *plug*

A Conversation with Graham Hughes

While doing a radio interview for my latest show I met Graham Hughes in the lobby. He was a super cool adventurer. When I found out what he has been up to I was blown away by his amazing life! He has been to almost 200 countries on a budget and he has done it all SANS airplanes! How amazing is that?! You have to check out his blog and if you have the National Geographic Channel watch his show, Graham's World! I don't have a tv or I would totally check in! (As soon as it's on Itunes Graham I'm there!)
You can find his blog at:  http://www.theodysseyexpedition.com
You'll love it! It's smart and I can't imagine having an adventure like his! It's such a larger than life experience. I'm in awe of his dedication to his craft of being a traveler. I asked him if he had an Odysseus moment on his journey? Apparently he totally had a couple of those.
Thanks again to Graham for having an interview with me!
I appreciated his time and his lovely traveling hat! 

Thanks to Graham for the awesome photo from his blog!

I'm a Wild Thing... Are You?

I had very bad news today. Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are passed away. As one of my favorite books as a kid I feel like one of my first mentors has passed away. I love great children's books. I kept all of mine from childhood and I still read them when I go back home. Great books like Where the Wild Things Are allow children to open their minds to magical places and imagine places where we can all be kings of the monsters! The darkness in Sendak's book is to be commended because it allows kids to explore the dark side of human nature and doesn't sugar coat. It's rare to find a kids book that is as layered as Wild Things.

I am a Wild Thing. Are you? I would like to thank Maurice for writing a wonderful book that I still enjoy introducing to kids these days through theatre. It is a wonderful children's theatre piece if you are considering it for your next season. All children LOVE it!

So, like Max I gnash my teeth and with roar declare, "LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!"
We need to dance and celebrate more in our daily lives. We need to have more fun and not worry so much. Sometimes we all just need a good rumpus.

Or we're going to become bitches and "Eat you UP!" as Maurice would say...

RIP Maurice...

What's your favorite children's book?

Gallery Opening 3812

I was pleased to be invited by my friend and fellow HK artist, Mark Peaker to his art gallery opening next Friday! They are celebrating their one year anniversary by bringing a young talented artist to Hong Kong. Mark is not only an artist he is a philanthropist and has been very kind to our community by giving and helping to raise money for several artistic charities over the years.

 It is now my duty to help spread the word and make sure we all show up for free booze! It is our duty as a community to eat cheese and crackers! *Please tell me you can read sarcasm...*
 (There will be cheese and crackers right?) There better be or you might have a fucking riot on your hands Peaker... You don't want a bunch of drunk artists around a mixed media piece... BELIEVE ME. Not pretty!

The opening is May 11th, 7pm to 9pm! Please RSVP if you plan on attending. You can more information about directions and so forth by contacting Joe at the gallery when you RSVP or by going on to the 3812 website: www.3812cap.com. The exhibit is called the Sounds of Nature and is a mixed media installation by artist Lin Guocheng.

Here is the beautiful flyer! I can't wait to see the show, lovely! It's going to be fab! I love any opportunity to see new and upcoming talent. More galleries should bring in new stuff! Especially that big gallery on the harbour in TST. I think it's called the Museum of Art. I have seen the same old shitty pottery there for four years. Change it up! Hong Kong is supposed to be one of the most progressive and modern cities in the world! Our Art Museum shouldn't have dusty old ceramics taking up half the building!

Nominations Accepted Starting Today!

I will start accepting nominations today!

You can find the complete listing of shows here:
http://hkartguide.blogspot.com/2012/04/list-of-all-shows-for-awards-form.html

You can find the nomination categories here:
http://hkartguide.blogspot.com/2012/04/nomination-form.html

For privacy please email the forms back to me at meaghan.mcgurgan@gmail.com
If you wish to give me your ballot in person we can arrange a meeting time.
or PM them back to HK_Arts facebook account. Your answers will be kept confidential. Nominations will be announced at the end of May. All shows performing in May are eligible.

Artist of the Month- May- Kirsty McLean

 Kirsty McLean is our Artist of the Month for May! One of the triple threats in town she can sing/dance/act and she is one of the funniest ladies I have ever met. Super talented and nice we are pleased to get to showcase her for the month of May! We're a little scared to hear she practices "method" acting as she is playing Lust in Snow and the Deadly Seven in Vixens Burlesque's cabaret in May. I would be scared to know how you go method for a character like that!!!

Please enjoy getting to know Kirsty! I can say from working with her personally she is always a professional, passionate about her craft and she is a pretty fierce dancer!