HMS Resolute Desk, Oval Office

The original New Hampshire State House was built in 1758 as the seat of New Hampshire’s Colonial government, but it now sits in a trailer awaiting an uncertain fate. Different parties have convened to decide what will happen to the remnants of the structure, including a Save the Old NH Statehouse Committee and those funded under a federal $250,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. Recently local coverage of the saga quoted a participant in the process as saying if the structure is not being rebuilt, then “Just burn the damn thing and be done with it and erase it.”

I thought that I would offer another suggestion.

During his term of office, President Kennedy used a special desk gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1879. The desk in the Oval Office of the White House was made from the timbers of the British barque-rigged arctic exploration ship, HMS RESOLUTE. I believe this wonderful historic precedent to take an iconic structure and repurpose it in this fashion should be looked at closely. While there are those that clearly see the value in rebuilding the old State House as a museum piece, I wonder if it would be more meaningful to make it a functional tool of democracy that can be gifted to the office of mayor of Portsmouth, for example.

Citizens can follow the design and construction of the desk through an interactive website that provides the history of the old State House in a dynamic way. There can be a companion children’s book and regional teaching curriculum to foster appreciation. When appropriate, the desk itself can travel across the state for special events, including Exeter’s American Independence Festival.

HMS Resolute, Etching

Submitted with respect to the many people have worked hard to come up with the best future for the old State House.

Yes, you heard that right. This weekend I am going over the edge of a high rise in downtown Manchester, NH, specifically the Brady Sullivan Building. Here it is:

Yep. Why am I doing this? Yesterday I was invited to join a team with Mike Teixeira, who is raising money for the BSA Daniel Webster Council through an incredible opportunity called XtremeDescent. Listen, I have done some scary things in the past. Last year I recreated Michael Jackson’s 1995 MTV Music Awards dance solo in front of hundreds of people. I had never danced solo in front of people in my life… let alone on stage. Here’s a photo of me doing that:

Now that was scary, but nothing beats this. The reason I mentioned the charities at the beginning of this post is because I realized that the first opportunity I had to benefit a charity of any kind was through the BSA Daniel Webster Council when I was nine years old. I was a cub scout. Frankly I don’t always support all the BSA policies nowadays, but I do recognize (and am thankful for) the opportunities the organization gave me to give back to the community. Those experiences built character. So, that’s it. You can come and watch. You (or your business) can make a donation on our (just created) team page (search for the Digital Descenders!) –or, even better, you can create your own donation page, raise some money, and you can rappel from a 24 story office building too. How cool is that? You can can be Batman/woman and help young people build character at the same time. Spread the word. And keep an eye on my Twitter feed for details as they develop.

Looking for inspiration? I am looking for original 10-minute one-act plays that are steampunk and/or robot comedies or tragedies. All of the submitted plays will be published on the web as a Creative Commons licensed steampunk short play anthology. The publication will include music and comic book art inspired by the work. Selected plays will be produced on stage at The Players’ Ring Theater of Portsmouth, NH, September 24th to October 10^th 2010.

WHAT IS STEAMPUNK?

It is a genre set in the 19th century (often Victorian-era England) featuring prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions (and sometimes alternative history) like those found in the works of HG Wells, Jules Verne, or Mary Shelly. Influences of this evolving genre can be found in contemporary books, movies, television, art, and fashion.

THE PLAN:

Nine plays will be selected for performance. Comic book artists and musicians will produce work inspired by the remaining plays. Audiences and readers will have a cross-media world to explore when the show is launched. All of the submitted plays will be published on the web under a Creative Commons license. The title of the anthology and the collected stage show will come from one of the submitted plays.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

Sign up (by dropping a comment below briefly introducing yourself). Write a play. Spread the word.

SUBMITTING YOUR PLAY:

All plays will be submitted to me digitally: john.c.herman“at”gmail.com with the subject heading: STEAM PUNK PLAY SUBMISSION. The final due date for play submissions is July 18th. The roster of plays to be produced will be announced August 1^st. At that time, they will be fast tracked into production. The remaining plays will be distributed to visual and musical artists for inspired work creation.

THE WORKSHOP:

Wednesday, July 7th at 5:30pm I will host a gathering for playwrights who want to workshop their submissions. Playwrights are asked to prepare three copies of their work for the event. The physical gathering will take place at Crackskulls, Coffee and Books in Newmarket, NH, and there will also be a live web video chat workshop occurring at the same time for playwrights outside of New England.

Sign up and get writing!

How to Survive the Strange web series auditions are this Monday, March 15^th at 6pm at Crackskulls in Newmarket, NH. Check out today’s Spotlight entertainment gossip column for some words on the amazing people contacting us.

Now let’s be frank. Open auditions can suck. What, really? It’s true. Listen. They are often characterized by long waits. And actors meet casting directors for only a moment. We, the producers of How to Survive the Strange, have decided to turn the common cattle call (as it is often referred) on its head. We want this audition to be fun! One way we are bringing the fun is that every 15 minutes we will be giving away prizes. Everyone who auditions gets a raffle ticket. And we have more fun planned. Expect the unexpected.

Here are the door prizes:

- Two graphic novels: The Walking Dead and Chew from Double Midnight Comics

- i-ds2 iPod speaker system from Boston Acoustics

- Two Horror themed t-shirts from Bryan White of CinemaSuicide

- The New Dead: zombie short story anthology (signed by two of its authors, including Joe Hill) from John Herman

- $10 Gift Certificate from Double Midnight Comics

- $10 Gift Certificate from Crackskulls

- Two Gourmet Cupcakes Gift Certificate from Old Stove Bake Shoppe

- Soup and Bread Gift Certificate from Souper Moms

- 1 year subscription to NH Magazine from Rick Broussard, editor of NH Magazine

- ArtSpider Advanced-Intermediate level membership from Larry Graykin of ArtSpider

If we collect more prizes, then we will add to the list. Want to offer a prize? Let us know!

(Pictured: Bryan White and John Herman, creators of How to Survive the Strange: the web series. Photo by Brian Turnbull)

I am directing “Wheel of Austen” for ImprovBoston. The show is a madcap improv comedy romp in period costume. The show takes the stage every Wednesday in February at 8pm at ImprovBoston in Central Square, Cambridge. Join us for a zany take on Jane Austen’s classic works starring comedians Michelle Boncek, Robert Woo, Chris Bujold, Elyse Schuerman, and Noah Sheola.

Before that, on January 24^th I join a great line-up of local writers (Marc Adams, Rachel Forrest, Chuck Galle, Phil Kliger, Sue Poulin, Becky Rule, and Liz Wright) at The Red Door in Portsmouth for an evening of storytelling called A Winter’s Tale. All proceeds ($5 admission) go to the 2010 (H)EAT Campaign sponsored by Seacoast Local. The event starts at 7pm. If you’re a fan of The Moth, spoken-word, or just a good yarn this is an evening not to be missed.

Finally I am acting in “Stories I Never Told My Daughter” February 17^th at The Press Room in Portsmouth. The stories include rogues, prostitutes, ambassadors, con men, artists, gangsters, loud-mouths and even an occasional ordinary citizen or two. This is an exciting stage reading of the memoirs of local writer and character Chuck Galle.

The NHSPCA (NH Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is a non-profit organization that receives no federal or state funding. They depend solely on community support to care for the 4000 animals that are surrendered to them on a yearly basis. Just this week I visited the NHSPCA and saw the many animals (sheep, horses, cats, bunnies, etc.) that are being cared for. For the next few weeks, I am volunteering my time to drive the Ford Fiesta around the state collecting donations. That’s right. If you want to donate kitten milk replacer, dog food, and cat litter, then I will come to you. Let’s make a difference: right now.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

1. Look at the NHSPCA wish list, purchase items, and contact me for pick up. Every item makes a difference. Want to go a step further? Spread the word. Collect items from friends, family, and co-workers over a few days. I’ll come and pick everything up.

2. Consider donating a special item or service (average value: $300+) for the NHSPCA’s annual silent auction to be held October 16th. Ask me how.

3. This Monday, August 17th, I will be in downtown Peterborough, NH at Club Cannon from 9am to 11am. Stop by and make your donation.

4. This Tuesday, August 18th, I will be performing improv comedy at The Players Ring of Portsmouth at 8 PM. Stop by. Drop off your donation in the theater lobby.

5. This Wednesday, August 19th, I’ll be in downtown Newmarket, NH, this from 5 PM to 7 PM. Stop by and make your donation. I’ll be beside the bright green one-of-a-kind-in-NH Ford Fiesta.

Ready to donate? Email me at john.c.herman “at” gmail.com Tell me where you are, and I will come and get your donations. It’s that simple. I plan on driving everything over to the NHSPCA by the end of the month, so act soon! I’ve been seeing their urgent requests for items, and I really want make a difference.

DO YOU GET TO BE IN ONE OF MY VIDEOS?

If you want to be in a video, then you will have the opportunity. I have a lot of people asking me if they can be in one of these monthly videos. Now is your chance. While I drive around, I will be making a video that will be distributed on Youtube and the Fiesta Movement site.

I attended Ernest Thompson’s inaugural workshop entitled ‘Write On Golden Pond.’ Thompson is the writer of ‘On Golden Pond’ and the writer/director of countless other projects. He’s currently developing a feature length film and web series in NH. For the workshop, the celebrated writer and director literally opens his farm to a collection of writers, putting them through an unexpectedly emotional journey to sincere writing. Everyone present wrote a play over the course of the weekend. The plays were performed at the workshop’s conclusion by a group of talented actors. Thompson colored the weekend with his stories of Hollywood icons like Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, James Earl Jones, and Julie Andrews. Writers traveled from as far as Walla Walla, Washington to experience the weekend. The workshop is being offered again August 21st through the 23rd. Find out more info at WhiteBridgeFarmProductions.com The workshop is pricey, but it is worth every penny.

In the past year, there has been an explosion of creative activity in New Hampshire. The amount of collaboration and shear creative energy seen at NH Media Makers seems to grow with each month. The NH film scene is on the rise. Writers are coming out of nowhere to join us at All Things Out Loud. Creative minds are really coming out of the woodwork. With people like Ernest Thompson to guide the next wave of creative minds, I feel like our best work is yet to come.

Have fond memories of summer camp? Adults from around the country are reliving their camp memories at a special retreat in the Maine woods. Camprov is a volunteer-run comedy summer camp for grown ups running from Friday, August 28th to Sunday, August 30th. It’s a jam-packed weekend of comedy workshops and performances.

“What makes Camprov special is that we’re truly dedicated to the summer camp experience,” says director John Herman. “Think toasted marshmallows, swimming, capture the flag, friendship bracelets, and cabin wars. Why should kids have all the fun?”

The weekend also features special guest instructors, including comedian Zach Ward. Ward has trained improv talent featured on television (Jeff Richards, Saturday Night Live, MADtv), the big screen (Maddy Curley, Disney’s Stick it), and students now featured at IO Chicago, IO West, The Magnet, UCBT-NY and UCBT-LA, Second City, Boom Chicago (Amsterdam), and the ComedySportz® across the World Comedy League. Among the instructors joining Ward are comedians Asaf Ronen (author of Directing Improv), Jill Bernard (author of Small Cute Book of Improv), and stand up comedian Dana Jay Bein, who was recently seen training a comedy hopeful on MTV’s Made.

“After one weekend, a beginner will have hours of workshops and performance under their belt. On the flipside, veteran comedians learn and work in an informal setting with their colleagues,” says Herman. “And we see a lot of networking happening during the lobster dinner.”

Camprov includes food and lodging, 10 hours of workshops, 2 nights of performances, and a whole lot more. The weekend costs $325 with a $25 discount offered until July 1st. For more information, registration, and a link to a social network populated by new and former campers, go to Camprov.com

This weekend I joined Stranger Than Fiction in turning downtown Portsmouth into a live action video. We were kicking off our summer season of improv comedy. Join us for ‘Tuesday Night Improv’ every Tuesday night of the summer at the Players Ring Theatre in Portsmouth. Shows start at 8 pm! Reserve your tickets now by calling (603) 436-8123.