-
Opening Night, Private Lives
Houston Press – “….Hart-Palumbo skillfully leads the actors through this second act wind-up, ratcheting up the tension between the two characters through barely contained barbs, foot stomps, lid slams, newspaper openings until no word [catch prhase] can stop the surge of vitriol and violence. . . .”
-
From “Private Lives” rehearsal
What would it feel like to suddenly meet the love of your life again, years after a vicious and vindictive divorce? What kind of courage or Narcissism would it take to flee from a new relationship with your acknowledged soul mate?
-
Revisiting “Private Lives”
This summer will mark an even dozen productions of Coward plays that I’ve been involved with over my career. Private Lives is perhaps my very favorite play of all. I played Sybil in my very first paid summer stock production, and again in my second show I appeared in here in Houston. I was lucky enough…
-
Mortification
I am seriously mortified, in every sense of the word at the moment.
-
Time Flies
Meanwhile, I drift from project to project, semester to semester, production to production, and time disappears without my noticing or adequately preparing for it.
-
Theater 2018
This past twelve months has been very exciting, theater-wise.
-
Sold Out Opening Night
I met dozens of Gwen’s friends who had traveled from Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and as far away as Delaware and Alaska for the event.
-
Turning a Corner: Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo
When we came back for the second run-thru, everyone was more energized, pushing the envelope and working their objectives. And suddenly, it seemed like we might be on the brink of having the play I’ve envisioned in my head; the one Gwen Flager wrote and rewrote.
-
Rehearsal for “Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo”
One actress informed me that I was terrifying, but then admitted that I was only demanding her best. I try never to yell or throw tantrums, but my expectations of these women are very high. And sometimes my frustration has to show. I suppose that can be terrifying if you are used to relying on…
-
“There You Are” Premiers at OutFest in LA
I was part of a wonderful short film project…accepted to premiere at Los Angeles’ OutFest in July.
-
“Cleo” at Alley Theatre
Last Saturday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Alley Theatre’s World Premiere of Cleo, by Austin writer Lawrence Wright. I’m a subscriber, but I don’t normally schedule my tickets for Saturday. So I was delightfully surprised to find I had been given me a seat dead center in the Hubbard Theatre. Standing to…
-
Cindy Crawford and Christabel
My cats wake me up at 5:30 every morning. I suppose that’s partly my fault, but I don’t know how. They became my alarm clock some years ago. Unfortunately, I can’t turn them off on weekends or use their noses as a snooze button. It starts with Cindy Crawford, my white and black calico…
-
There You Are, a short film
As I announced not long ago, I was cast in a short film being directed by Lisa Donato, written by Jen Richards. I travelled to Austin the end of last week and we rehearsed and shot the entire film over four days. Jen Richards is a transgender actress from Los Angeles who met Lisa Donato at South…
-
Short Film, “There You Are!”
I just got the call from Cat at Pastorini/Bosby Talent letting me know that I’ve booked a major role in a short film shooting in Austin in two weeks. I’m very excited. The subject matter is slightly controversial, but the script is touching and lovely. Among the cast, I’ll be working with Jo Perkins for…
-
Miss Bennet Will Rise Again!
As many of you know, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley was a joy to work on, and I was justifiably proud of the product. Most of the magazines and family-friendly publications that covered it have been glowing in their reports. Unfortunately, the two major papers in town were not as liberal in their praise. [Everett…
-
Miss Bennet, Week 4-First Preview
“It is that ingredient (the audience), like yeast, that will make our work ‘rise’, and elevate the rehearsal process to live theatre.”
-
Miss Bennet Rehearsals – Week 3
Over the weekend, we had our ’10 of 12′ rehearsal. It was exhausting, but productive, and we survived it–as we always do. Actor’s Equity union rules allow us to have one rehearsal during Tech Week, where we work actors and crew ten out of twelve consecutive hours. This is usually done in two five-hour work…
-
Organizing My Life: Writing, Publishing, and Personal Resolutions
We are on the eve of New Year’s Eve. So, perhaps it’s not too early to be looking ahead. On New Year’s Day, I will kick off the year right, with black-eyed peas, cabbage, and a few friends. And lots of wine. Having retired for the second time, I am looking forward to focusing on…
-
Arming Teachers: A Controversial Solution
One of my many roles/jobs has been as a teacher in secondary education. For many years I taught theater classes and film appreciation courses for U of H-Downtown and various campuses of Lone Star College system. I was happiest in a classroom but became a more than competent distance-learning instructor. A few years ago, I…
-
Casablanca turns 83
Eighty-three years ago today, the film Casablanca opened. The script had been plucked from the slush pile and greenlit the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The entire film was shot on a tight budget, on backlot locations quickly modified with a Moorish theme. It had name stars in Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman,…
-
Latest News: “Cue the Murder” out Fall 2026
Great news! My cozy mystery series has been picked up by Sibylline Publishing. This innovative small press focuses on the writing of brilliant women over 50. Met the publisher Vicki DeArmon and Sibylline author Claudia H. Long at Bouchercon mystery writers conference New Orleans this last September. Gave Vicki my elevator pitch and she was…
-
First Preview for MST’s “Private Lives”
Sunday, July 14, 2019 was our first preview for Private Lives. Sunday matinees are their own animal, and our loyal subscription base comes out in full force for previews. The lobby was abuzz with a sold out crowd. There are always familiar faces, and this time was no different. I talked to a couple of…
-
Finishing Tech Rehearsals of Private Lives
Well, every fabulous experience must have a down side I suppose. The fly in the ointment here has been my costumer. I’d never worked with this woman before, but she had solid credentials in the fashion industry and had worked for the Alley Theatre off and on over the years. We started our tech/design meetings…
-
10 of 12 rehearsal for Private Lives
If you are in the theater, you know what a “10 of 12” is. For those who are fans of theater, but not practitioners, it is one very long day allowed by Actors Equity and the other trades, when all the designers, cast, crew, and director try to work through adding the technical aspects of…
Claire Hart-Palumbo
When words really matter…
Claire Hart-Palumbo 