Michael Van Kerckhove

NEW Web Site and Blog, February 2008

FRIENDS,

I have decided to pack my bags and move to new digs! Please join me over at

http://michaelvankerckhove.wordpress.com/.

This domain will probably eventually be assigned to the new site and a few News archives moved with me.

See you at my new place!

Cheers,
Michael

Status: January 8, 2008

Hello, fans, friends, spammers, and anonymous stalkers!

Happy New Year! I hope 2008 has been nothing but fabulous so far. Thought I'd stop by and post before my new semester officially kicks off in a mere few hours. I survived my first semester of grad school. Two classes and teaching. And with the highest GPA I've ever had. EVER. Yay! This semester will involve three classes and NO teaching. I think I'll like that better.

It's been a pretty fascinating journey so far. My creative impulses have been much more literary than theatrical as of late. Though still feel that solo performance work bridges the gap, it's nudging its way into the literary part of my brain. I have a Creative Non-Fiction class this semester, so confronting both parts of my brain should be interesting.

Also, with our new camera, I've been playing with photography a lot. I never realized how much writing and photography had in common. Both tell stories in their own ways.

With school, I don't have a ton of time for a "professional" career--though I'm generating work that will hopefully find its way into career madness. :-)

With all that in mind, my World Wide Web needs and desires are evolving. I'm in the process (and it could be a long process, at least while the semester's in session!) of changing over the site dramatically. New domain name, new format, etc. In the mean time, take a look around. A few things may be slightly outdated. But my past accomplishments are still here! Will let you know when things switch over.....

Thanks to Joe for all his help on this current site!!! :-)

Peace.

Still Alive

Still alive, everyone! Life has been taken over by Grad School. Working on my MA in English at Indiana University South Bend. My world is a little more literary these days. I'm teaching an Intro to Theatre class that's keeping me theatrically grounded, though.

More to come....

Cheers,
Michael

Recent Goings On--June 5, 2007

Hello!

Wow, I’ve been neglecting things around here lately, haven’t I? The past few months have been a little crazy, with not a lot of time for creative endeavors—though they’ve still been hanging around, on my mind, and have been given some love.

I started a new job at a downtown SB restaurant, which is going pretty well. Having had a much needed break from the industry, I plunged back in and remembered why I kinda liked waiting tables—and why I also hate it. I also put in several hours at the IUSB Arts Office. I’ve been house managing various events this past semester—including Ernie’s fabulous production of Lysistrata. That’s all over for the school year, but if I can, I’d like to help out part time come fall.

Speaking of next fall, I’ll be starting the MA English program over at IUSB! I took a lot of time gathering my application and financial aid materials. All is kosher with that! I still need to look at my aid package I just received. They’re offering me more money than I really need. Tempting to grab it all, I must say! I’m looking forward to getting back to work again! 10 years after finishing my undergrad, I’m a little like Omigod, I’m going back to college! I know it won’t quite be like the Avenue Q song, but still. School will definitely force me to focus. I need that, yo. I’ll be taking the Fiction Writing class, and a class called Professional Scholarship in Literature. Hope that’s cool. I’m definitely excited about the writing classes. I’m sure I’ll get my footing in the lit classes soon enough, though. There aren’t any playwriting classes, but I definitely plan on looking for ways to incorporate and share my theatre background. It would also be cool to incorporate this year’s NaNoWriMo into classwork—and get my classmates involved. We’ll see what life is like in November for that….

And speaking of undergrad, I drove up to Kalamazoo in April for the Gala/Reunion/Retirement Party event. I hadn't been ON campus in years (just waved to it from an Amtrak train.) Great to see everyone who could make it! Cool to be in my old haunt again. The theatre still smells the same--even with the new carpet!

Ernie and I bought a new camera—and I’ve definitely let my inner photographer play with that. I plan to keep learning from the camera. It has a good amount to offer. Interesting how writing and photography go hand in hand in my brain. Both tell stories. And photographs can inspire stories. And then I just like to get artsy fartsy sometimes, too! Check out my gallery on my Flickr page!

We’ve also been working on our garden. We’ve definitely given our backyard a makeover. The veggies are coming in. As of this writing, we are the proud parents of a baby banana pepper. It’s so cute! I’m nervous about the tomatoes, but we’ll see how it goes. The herbs are growing, and I’m afraid the squash plants may take over the world. It’s been fun!

I actually have giving some writerly love. I’m putting together my full length solo show. I’m piecing together existing pieces, and writing new material. Looking forward to the editing and transitioning. I’d love to put it up some time in the near future. Here in the SB, and eventually in Chicago and wherever. I definitely want to continue working on it through the summer. While I still have “free” time.

I’ve also been reading through my mother’s writings. Things I would’ve read eventually. Things I was probably never meant to read. But she’s gone, and I have it, and I want to DO something with it, though I’m not totally sure what. A one woman play with a nod to Shirley Valentine? My next NaNo novel? I don’t think I could do a straightforward adaptation/based on a true story kinda thing. Definitely potential for something epic—and something intimate. Much to think about.

And I know “playwright” is part of this web site’s name. I have these plays, and I’d like to give them some life and love. I have ideas for new ones, but I have ideas for all sorts of things—and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Perhaps I should change the site to be more inclusive….?

Other little triumphs and almosts along the way, but I’ll wrap this up for now. Definitely want to keep up with this more—and have coolness to share with everyone!

Be well and love all.

M.

Life on March 20th

Hey Everyone!

Well, Spring is just about here. Starts today? Full on tomorrow? At least in theory. Chicago during the show was bitter cold and snowy. A little snowy. I had to laugh at everyone complaining about the whole inch of snow that fell during the final performance. I was like, Um we've had about two FEET in South Bend, so shut up, yo.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who participated in and attended Solo Homo 5. I had a great time seeing everyone and meeting a few new peeps and working in the new space (even if the backstage area was a little cramped).

Thanks also for all the feed back on the new piece, The Death of a Jock. So good to get new work on its feet. Doing this show has definitely made me ache to work on my own full length show. I have four 10-11 minute pieces and something shorter that I'd like to include. That's about 48 minutes reading. I'm working on new material for it as well (though so far, two of the existing pieces haven't been performed yet.) Then I really need to get to the editing and connective tissue. I'd love to get something together around here in The SB and then take it to Chicago. So, stay tuned....

My March 2007 "Chicago Scene" is up and running On the Purple Circuit. Check it out!

If you are new to the site, or if you need navigation guidance, please read my Welcome page. Thanks!

And while I'm here, Congrats to R.E.M. for their induction into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. I caught the VH1 special the other night. Eddie Vedder did a great speech welcoming in. They played "Begin the Begin," "Gardening at Night," and "Man on the Moon" (with Eddie helping on vocals.) Even cooler was the return of Bill Berry on drums for the event. Great to see them all together again. They're set to start recording their new album this spring. Looking forward to it!

Hope everyone survived their St. Patty's Day weekend. See you next time....

Solo Homo 5 in Chicago Next Week!

Hey everyone! Check out my next show in Chicago next week! I'll be on hand to perform a new piece, "The Death of a Jock."

A word of advice: Don't be an asshole in high school or you may end up on the barrel end of a solo performance piece.

Would love to see you there!

If you are new to the site, or if you need navigation guidance, please read my Welcome page. Thanks!

"Ramble" Interview Part 2!

Part 2 is up and running! I'm listening to it as I type. I still say, "Ya know," but it's not as annoying. To me, anyway. It's a longer interview, but it's fun. So far. :-)

Take a listen at RambleRedhead.com

If you're so inclined, leave a comment on the site or over at iTunes. Tom would love to hear from you!

If you are new to the site, or if you need navigation guidence, please read my Welcome page. Thanks!

My Interview on the Ramble Redhead Show!

Today, I'm sending out a special Welcome to Ramble RedHead listeners!

So, a few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Tom aka Ramble Redhead for his podcast. He's based here in South Bend, so I was able to stop by his place for the fun. He interviews various gay folk in the arts, media, and otherwise.

You can listen at his web site RambleRedhead.com. If you have iTunes, you can subscribe to the podcast there. I'm episode #113. There will be at least one more episode with me. Last week, we did another interview by phone, so keep an eye and ear out for that.

I say "You know," way too much. :-P

Enjoy!

If you are new to the site, or if you need navigation guidence, please read my Welcome page. Thanks!

New Website Look

Hello Everyone, Joseph - the amazing webguru for Michael here. I just completed this new look for Michael's website. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I kinda think this is cool. I hope you like it too. I'm thinking of implementing the user changeable themes function in the near future, but I have to ask Michael about that.

So for now, enjoy the new look. Send me some comments about the site, if you wish.

Thanks,
Joseph

Happy New Year!

Hello friends! Happy '007! (We saw Casino Royale on New Year's Eve!) Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and groovy New Year. I know we did. Ernie and I went back to Michigan over the Christmas weekend. He had to get back to The SB for rehearsals in Chicago, but I was able to stick around for a few more days. I got to see lots of family and friends, including friends I hadn't seen in a couple years. Always nice.

The holiday was also filled with many old family photos--photos of my grandparents and before that I'd never seen. It was a family archival history frenzy! Definitely some stories in there for inspiration.

Definitely fun, but I'm glad life's settled down in that respect. Now we can all get back to work! Of course, I had to take time to get some work done over the break. Deadlines are deadlines!

Here's a little list of my latest goings on for you....

**My December "Chicago Scene" is up and running On the Purple Circuit. Check it out!

**I finally took the time to read over my NaNoWriMo novel! And hey, it's not all garbage. Not all brilliant, but not all bad either. I figured that would be the case. The individual parts are better than the sum, really. I've decided to take one of the storylines (the main one with the title character) and break it off from the others to really develop it. It's been fun. Much work ahead, but fun. I never really thought I'd tackle a novel, but that is where my creative life has taken me at the moment, so why not run with it!

**I'm also working to pump up my freelance creds. I want to have at least a little something out there at all times. It's always nice to have the potential for those good news emails!

**Finally, I'm gearing up for NewTown Writers' Solo Homo 5. That goes up March 5-7 at Live Bait Theatre in Chicago. There will be many returning faces to the series, with maybe a couple new folks--not totally sure of the line up at this point. I'm really excited about performing on the Live Bait stage! Sharon Evans and the other folks over there are really supportive of solo performance. I'll be sending out more info in the coming months....

That's the news for now. Be well, and I hope to get back to you soon. Cheers!