Every year, the entire staff at the AT&T Performing Arts Center gathers for one day to focus exclusively on the company's "Core Values." They are (in no particular order) Customer Service, Flexibility, Achievement, Community, and Passion.

Not a bad lot as far as values go.

And, as anyone who's hired the consultant will tell you, these ideas are not aspirational - they are values that are embedded into the life-blood of the organization and its staff. They were identified by examining what we already do.

It's nice to know that we were always motivated this way... even before we cut the check to the consultant.

I didn't believe it at first, but (and I'm sure I'm not alone) these are all notions that drive my daily interactions, my decision making, my goals, my life. Lucky me that I ended up working for a place that shared my philosophy.

And on days like today, we place our practice at the forefront and celebrate it. It gives us all a chance to let our hair down and pat ourselves on the back and play a little.

My buddy Alex Hargis captured a video of how our technicians play... and I gotta say, I can't imagine a more apropos way to sum it all up. 

How often have you asked yourself what you value? And how do you celebrate it?

Enjoy the "Moody Chandelier" like you've never seen it before, and will likely never see it in person should you visit the Center.

Today is my grandfather's 95th birthday. I can't articulate how much this man means to me and how in awe I am of the changes he's seen over the course of his life.

A few months ago, I directed a production of ALL MY SONS and wrote about the old man and his life and wanted to post those thoughts here as I contemplate living for another 52 years. 

Happy Birthday, Spec.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Arts + Culture editor in chief, Nancy Wozny, in person once and her enthusiasm for the arts is a rarity, even among arts lovers.  She's like the white rhino of the arts and I really hope the economics of arts reporting don't take out the last of this species.  

One of the most exciting things about starting the Off-Broadway on Flora series was the opportunity to bring artists to Dallas that not only had never been here, but given the economics of touring, would likely never come here if we didn't push for it.  The slight of hand I needed to perform was sneaking those artists that were on the outer edges of commercial viability into a series with other shows that felt just as fringe, but that carried a more commercial appeal.  It's a bit of a tightrope walk but of the five shows we brought in our inaugural season, three were naturally attractive to the casual theater goer and the other two were revolutionaries disguised as respectable members of society. Those two... my two personal favorites from the season, the two that lost money and had us begging for audiences, the two whose mission was to subvert the natural order of the world... those two shows continue to be the subject of conversation for Ms. Wozny.  And what's more... she writes about it.

I'm starting a wildlife refuge so people like Nancy can laze around in their natural habitat free from predators.  We're raising funds... you can donate at www.attpac.org.

click the pic to read about Nancy's summer favorites...