October marks ten years of war in Afghanistan; the longest war in American History. I have been doing a bit of reading about wars-gone-by and was shocked to discover the sacrifice our communities used to make when our country went to war. This war (whether you agree with it or not) has been borne on the backs of young men and women who've volunteered in the prime of their lives to serve something or someone or some idea or belief system.  Nevertheless, they are sacrificing selflessly and I am here in America, consuming food, gas and soda pop. So I began to think, what exactly did our country used to sacrifice during wartime and what could I do to help more with this silent war?

Did you know in WWII hemlines and cuffs were monitored and rationed!?  Not only that but Tires, Cars, Bicycles, Gasoline, Fuel, Oil, Kerosene, Stoves, Rubber Footwear, Shoes, Sugar, Coffee , Processed Foods, Meats, Canned Fish, Cheese, Canned Milk, Fats and Typewriters!!! Now I'm not saying I couldn't use a little fat rationing! The other thing that the government requested was that  individuals and families grow a garden so that we'd eat our own vegetables and save the quality farm crops for the troops stationed overseas. This was to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. Not only that, it was considered a "morale booster in that gardeners felt empowered by their labor and rewarded by the fresh produce." Who doesn't need a morale booster right about now? And before you go all Eleanor Roosevelt on me and tell me that we're going to be taking food from our own farmers, do me a favor and look at the label on that package of pineapple.
  
#1 PLANT A GARDEN
So I planted a garden. Inspired by the visionary work of Lauren Bon and the Metabolic Studio (see link below) and armed with my list,  I went to Home Depot (because they're awesome) and got ten starter plants and put them in clay pots. My amazing landlord said I could use part of the yard to start the garden. 80 bucks later, I have a war garden. But I live in a cold climate you protest!  Okay. Fair enough. What can you do? What can you ration? Can you go to the farmer's market and buy local produce and meats? As for me I put in a garden with lettuce, radishes, leeks and the like. If you decide to grow one too shoot me an email on the contact page. Now grow out there and do something!  xo April

FarmLab
http://www.farmlab.org/2009/02/anabolic-monument.html
Ames Historical Society
 http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm

What: The Truth The Wall Street Journal calls this improvised monologue show, “Improvisation with a point.” Totally truthful, completely spontaneous, often funny, touching and sweet — always dangerous and exciting.  Each week a new cast of storytellers speaks honestly on the topic picked from a box by an audience member. Topics have been GRUDGES, SEX, MOTHERS, FANTASIES, GHOSTS and many others. Bang is committed to using improvisation in unique and entertaining ways. THE TRUTH is a very successful product of those efforts, and has been running regularly at bang since 2001.  Info and tickets here: http://www.bangstudio.com/the-truth/

Who:
April Fitzsimmons
Jesse Garcia
Mike Hitchcock
Selene Luna
Frances Nichols
Marisa Sarnoff

HOSTED AND DIRECTED BY: Ezra Weisz
PRODUCED BY: Sabrina Hill

When: Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at 8pm

Where:         Bang Studio
                    457 Fairfax Ave.
                    Los Angeles, CA 90036
   
Link to Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&time=&date=&t&q=457+N+Fairfax+Ave,+Los+Angeles,+Los+Angeles,+California+90036&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=25.507599,58.447266&ie=UTF8&om=1&geocode=FToECAIdfPLx-A&split=0&hq=&hnear=457+N+Fairfax+Ave,+Los+Angeles,+California+90036&z=17

Tickets:
$14 at the door

Hi Friends - I'm hosting a free writer's workshop this Saturday. Veterans and Community welcome! All the info is below - Call if you have any questions (310) 880-0911 - Kind regards and happy writing! April

What:  A Writer’s Workshop for Veterans and our Community. Do you have a story to tell and you aren’t sure how to proceed? Are you blocked in your writing or your creativity? Come to this workshop to explore what’s possible in your writing. No experience is necessary. This workshop is free for our Veterans and the Community.

Who: April Fitzsimmons is an Air Force Veteran and an actor/writer in Culver City. She is an MFA Graduate Student at Antioch University and has been teaching creative expression and writing workshops to Veterans for the last four years. She developed a unique curriculum that encourages Vets (and everyone!) to restore creativity and to use writing to enhance their life. She currently teaches at the VA in West Los Angeles and at New Directions, a program for homeless Veterans in recovery.

Where:  Post 2, AmVets Hall, 10858 Culver Blvd. Culver City CA 90230  - Between Overland and Sepulveda - Free Parking in Front

When:  Dates listed below. Please check the website for scheduling updates.

Saturday, February 5, 2011 – from 1pm – 3pm
Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 1pm – 4pm
Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 1pm – 4pm
Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 1pm – 4pm
Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 1pm – 4pm
Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 1pm – 4pm

*Please bring a notebook and a pen/pencil  *

Coffee, Tea & Water will be provided
Sponsored by the US Veterans Artists Alliance
www.usvaa.org

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” – E.L. Doctorow

 

Hello beautiful!

Hope you are enjoying this joyful Holiday season!  I've written and directed a really fun kid's show called "Game Over, Man" and it's running just two weekends at the Actors' Gang in Culver City. The kid's Holiday show stars 13 amazing 3rd & 4th graders from La Ballona Elementary and 7 awesome actors from the Actors' Gang. The show is FREE with an unwrapped toy for Operation USA So come on down for our Sing-A-Long show and join this hilarious cast of characters for a Holiday show you will never forget!

Shows:
Sat 12/4 - 12p-1p
Sun 12/5 - 12p-1p
                                                                                                          Sat 12/11 - 12p-1p                                                                                                                              Sun 12/12 - 12p-1p
Flyer artwork by Cristian Turdera
                                                                                                                    

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Here's the new trailer for "Break the Whip" edited by Pedro Shanahan. Come see this epic new play written and directed by Tim Robbins at The Actors' Gang in Culver City.