Progress Report

Still nothing, really. Maybe soon.

Progress report

Not today. Maybe tomorrow.

Progress report

Today, nothing.

New CD: The Red Circle Line

Okay folks, it's been a nutty couple of weeks. South is down, for now, and I've divided my new schedule between catching up with my actual job and sleeping.

Now for all of you who may not have been fortunate, or crazy enough to make it to New York City for South, I've naturally got another thing going. Somewhere in the rehearsal process for South, I wrapped a new CD, The Red Circle Line. The title honors my daily commute into midtown by subway to extract money from the man, or a man. Or sometimes the Woman. Whatever. In any case, it's a wonderful piece of musical output, and you will be certainly pleased by it if you pick up a copy.

Now I'm not going to get into that "hey, support me because I'm an artist" thing, although I do crave support. No, you should check it out because it contains some truly great music and I think you will like it. These songs are good. A guy at work said, "It would be great if you could get some guitar and drums in these like a normal album, but even with the ukulele or whatever that is, I was humming these tunes on the way into work today. Weird."

See, people like this stuff.

Go, listen to some pieces, and if you're interested, then buy it online, because unless you come ring my doorbell in the Bronx, that's where you're going to get it.

If you'd like to be supportive, but don't want to spend any money, I have another offer. Listen to the snippets on itunes or CDBaby, post a comment on CDbaby or itunes, let me know you did it so I can check it out and I'll send you a copy for nuthin'. Of course, if you do not wish to waste precious time reviewing the actual music, you may simply provide a testimonial on those sites regarding my character and I'll honor the commitment. Writing is good for you! Even if you trash me out with a scandalously negative review, I'll still send you a CD. You may be able to make a few bucks selling it on ebay (where most of my sales occur), but whatever, I'm into redistribution of wealth, even my own, such as it is. This offer is especially good for Kent, as he pontificates so beautifully about quality music, and I long to be included in his commentary.

A few facts: I wrote all of it and played most of it. Some spectacularly sexy vocals by Alison Davy, to whom I'm married. (TMI?) Eric Garfinkel played guitar on one song, and I should have used him on more. Brian Dewan did a beautiful painting for the cover. Alan Silverman of Arf Digital in NYC mastered it for that extra special something. All in all, it's a no-miss event.

So that's the deal at the moment. Download it on itunes for 10 bucks (fire up itunes, type in Carmen Borgia in the itunes store) or buy the CD on CD baby for 10.99 plus shipping. More info can be had here on my Web site. Come on, go do it!

Man, marketing my own stuff is hard. Almost makes me wish I was on a record label.

Sonny's sub recipe, first recollection

Recipe for Sonny's sub, to the best of my recollection:
This works best with a time travel device that takes you to 1975 or so.

- 1 Hero roll, white flour based, custom made to order at the IGA bakery on Mt. Vernon Road
- 3 slices cappicola hot ham from DiPaolo distributors, Columbus, OH
- 3 slices hard salami from DiPaolo distributors, Columbus, OH
- A leaf or two of sliced iceberg lettuce
- A ring of thinly sliced onion
- A small ladle or two of equal parts shaken oil and vinegar plus Sonny's secret spice mixture
- 3 or 4 oz coarsely grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese from DiPaolo distributors, Columbus, OH

Slice the hero roll lengthwise. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella on BOTH SIDES of the sliced roll, bake it in pizza oven at 325 degrees until mozzarella gets a bit brown on the peaks. Slip it out of the oven and quickly spread out the cappicola and salami over the molten cheese, dress with iceberg lettuce and onion and then hit it with a generous wash of the oil and vinegar dressing. Pop the top on that sucker, slice it into two halves and eat it before it cools.

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In a moment of lazy nostalgia in NYC around 1990 in the East Village, I went into an Italian pizza shop that had subs. I asked the guy, "Make me your regular sub, but can you toast the cheese on it and then put the meat and everything else on cold?" The cook behind the counter said, "Oh yeah, I know about that way."

I went back about five more times over the next few months and each time the cook saw me he just nodded and started making the sandwich. Deep.

The Day After Closing South

Had a very fun and packed final weekend. Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, listened, put up with and cheered from the sidelines. What a hoot this has been!

I don't want to go overboard with the thank you's (You like me, you really like me!), but what a great team effort. It's been a truly fortunate time for me to have been able to play with so many talented and dedicated people. I can only hope that this has been as much fun for my collaborators as it's been for me. Cast, direction, design and tech crew all put out hugely, and people could see it on stage. Dixon Place was of course there from the beginning. The love and support they provide to artists such as myself is essential. I believe that many great works will emerge from the Chrystie Street theater. Maybe we'll be one of them. What a cool thing to be included in this opening season.

Now we get to load the scenery, props and costumes out of Dixon Place. The crate and props go to the apartment (!), the instruments back into the studio and the costumes back to the Costume Collection.

I've been asked what's next for South, and the truth is, first, a long nap. Then, dunno! We have great video of the show, and that must be edited so we can show it around. Another run? A CD? Film it, animate it? Hmmm...anybody looking for a show for their theater?

Onward!

A few reviews of South

Only one weekend to go! Here are some reviews...

A few from theatermania.com:

Crazy Fun! by theaterlady

Ive been losing faith in the off-off-Broadway world because, so often, the playwrights try so hard to be edgy or different they forget that theres an audience that may want to be engaged and, god-forbid, entertained. SOUTH is simple and complex, deep and frothy, meaningful and playful. The staging was creative and unique, the performers, just dynamite! THANK YOU!

posted on 06/15/2009 at 8:34:00 PM

Review: Excellent option! by lisasf

For those who appreciate creative, talented, off beat, poignant, funny, you'll LOVE South! The love child of Carmen Borgia, a quirky, hip, brilliant musician, with Bill Pace directing, its no suprise South takes you on an unexpected journey. Its refreshing when a musical surprises you with a destination you never imagined getting to. Since Broadway has turned Hollywood, you need to go downtown for all the exhiliratingly original pieces, which South has in plenty! Not only is the writer an amazingly accomplished musician/singer/songwriter, but the cast is filled with top notch performers. This supremely talented, highly enjoyable cast will impress in all the right ways. With Doug Skinner (Bill Irwin's partner in crime for years), Bill Tost (The Fantastiks), alongside Robb Sherman, Sadrina Johnson, Michael D'Emedio and Alison Davy you'll want to have seen South when it opens with the original cast, trust me! You'll be one of the cool kids who can say, "I was there when South was in a 100 seat theater in the East Village, how cool is that??"

posted on 06/06/2009 at 7:03:00 AM

Review: RE:Worth a look by jerrynick

Caught a preview, pretty cool music - Magnetic Fields meets Wilco....

posted on 06/03/2009 at 10:53:00 PM

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Various email salutations and encouragements...

Just got back from seeing South, a nautical musical by Ukulele Cabaret regular, Carmen Borgia. All I have to say is, GO SEE IT! It also features Ukulele Cabaret Regulars Doug Skinner and Alison Davy.

Ted Gottfried, Sonic Uke
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CONGRATULATIONS my friend !!! What a great work!
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The show was great fun and I look forward to seeing and hearing more from you!
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Hey Carmen, saw the show over the weekend and really enjoyed it- particularly the ukulele number. Awesome work man! Congrats!
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I loved the show last night! Hope we can catch it again the last weekend...
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What an incredible show! So many quotable lines, singable tunes, stunning characterizations...I LOVED IT! If you are ANYWHERE close to NYC in June, you must see it!
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What a delightful and delicious romp!