MiNiMumWage: The Burgerboy Chronicles

"Still some stuff in the basement." -Rocky Balboa

2009-08-19T14:18:00.004-04:00

Do you remember that scene from Rocky Balboa? The one where he tells Paulie that he still has something inside? Yeah, me too. I liked that scene.

I'm trying to figure out what's still in my basement. I think it might be an old Hollymatic Griddle 4000... or a poke in the eye from a rusty spatula...

(Cue Rocky Music: "Da da da da...."

oops, that was Jaws:

" "Da da da da da da..."

Nope that was Lord of the Rings:

"Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da da BOM BOM da da da da da da da!")

Somebody is trying to light a fire in me.
Somebody is trying to light a fire in my basement.
And they almost burned my testock-clays.

The basement is dark.
It smells of rancid french fries.
It smells of adventure and locked away dreams.

Obama Card Game

2009-01-19T00:37:00.002-05:00

Hey,
Check out our new additions, vids and blog at Obama Card Game.com

J

Elder Lopez

2008-01-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

The BEST thing about cataract surgery here is the morning after; when Dr. LaGreca examines the eyes of our patients after we take off their bandages.

They can see much clearer as the tape comes off, and it is simply awesome to see them smile and laugh! My standing joke with them is to point to myself and say, "¿Muy guapo, si? (I use that over and over to great effect ;-)

Tuesday night I worked with David and Brian in the dingy operating room here at Pina Plamera until about 10:15. This was a day that started at about 7 am.

We had many patients this day.

Before a patient is operated on, their eyes must be measured and checked for other internal damage to see if they are a candidate for cataract surgery.

Sometimes, a cataract is so cloudy or thick that it is difficult to see what is behind it. Our last surgery was really tough on all of us.

Most of the candidates are older, anywhere from 60 to 95, but we get a few who are younger. Our last patient was Elder Lopez, a 14 year old boy from the nearby village of Puerto Angel, who was completely blind in both eyes. He arrived with his family and his father was especially hopeful that, due to the lack of good medical care available, that my brother might be able to restore some sight to his son.

You could see that everyone wanted this surgery to go well.

As his father brought him into the operating room, I could tell that his son was very scared. Many members of the family had eye problems, but Elder´s were the most difficult.

We worked on him for a very long time, and up until this point all the surgeries we had done had been successful. But on this one, I could tell something was different. It was taking longer and there was some sort of difficulty. David, became very, very focused.

Brian as always, was the epitome of calm.

The surgery went on, I could tell that Brian had run into some sort of unexpected challenge and was slowly, diligently, progressing through it.

At his point, Elder began to fidget and freak out a bit, I patted his arm and told him to stay calm, "Tranquilete." Anistethic is applied locally in this type of procedure, so the patient is awake and as you can imagine, its important for them to keep their heads still during surgery. There was some tension hanging in the air, and Elder kept fidgeting and making noise. I honestly didn´t know what to do, I was SO out of my element, so I just started singing to him.

I couldn´t even remember all the words, but the lyrics go something like this,

"You will be meek when I am able

You’ll be the salt upon the table

When all is said and done could you

Somehow be sons of Abraham"

Well, nobody threw up* and that actually SEEMED to help a bit- he calmed down and after another twenty to thirty minutes, we were finished.

Normally, in cataract surgery, the patient receives an implant lens and I realized that we did not give one to Elder. As we helped him out of the room, it became apparent to me that the procedure was not so successful.

It was weird. I was VERY emotional about this incident! There was this turbulent tempest smashing about inside of me. I was managing to hold it together, but underneath I was experiencing these swirling waves vacillating between anger and grief! Why wasn´t anyone else experiencing this??!

I learned from Brian later on that Elder just had too much damage to his retina and removing the cataract did nothing to help this. It was then that my older brother, whom I admire so much, and is somewhat softspoken, said to me. "That was a VERY emotional surgery."

He said this very calmly and matter of factly, with a slight smile on his face. David said something similar to me later on back at Cerro Largo.

It kind of hit me then. Of course, it is emotional, that is why we are all here. But whereas, I work in the arts field on a day to day basis where we paint, illustrate, display and sculpt with emotion. In this field, it is important to work PAST those emotions. They are there, but it is not like you see on some hospital television drama. And that´s good. Because they can do their jobs well. And that is why you can trust these two men so much.

*Actually, David threw up the next day, but I don´t think that was because of my singing...

This is an awesome sunset over Mazunte, I am grateful to be able to see it!

It´s Friday...Viernes Fiesta!

2008-01-25T14:05:00.000-05:00

I´m going to try to post some vids, but that may have to wait until I get back to the states.

It´s very hot and hard to write.

This is our last day to do surgeries. We are waiting on a busload of patients to arrive from Candelaria, a small village that is about 4 hours away. They have no phones or method of communication, so we just have to wait.

Last night we finished with the patients around 7 or so. My Bro and I dashed to the beach to rent surfboards and try to get out, but we were just too late. Ai, pobrecito.

That´s okay, there was still an awesome sunset and we had a great dinner with all the crew back up at Cerro Largo.

The huge rock in the ocean to my left is called, "Roca Blanco"...which means...white rock. I guess that was better than calling it "Roca Pelican-poo".

This is Gary with a rustic gentelmen known only to me as El Campesino. He arrived with his daughter and a very large machete hanging around his shoulders. It felt as if he just kind of walked in from the jungles.

Gary asked him if it would be alright to take his picture and, roughly translated, the man replied in a very stern tone that "No, it would not be allright for us to take his picture! We would steal his image and then take it away with us, and who knows what we might do with it. He would not be able to get into Heaven, if we took his picture..."

He went on and on like this, and Gary, who teaches Spanish back in Wyoming, courteously apologized, letting him know that we did not intend to offend him. At this point, I glanced over at his daughter, a young woman of about 30 or so and she had this glint in her eye. Senor Campesino just stopped for a moment. There was brief silence.

And then they both started laughing and laughing!! He was pulling our leg the entire time! ha ha!

This was especially funny, because Gary is usually the one poking fun and cracking jokes and El Campesino beat him at his own game.

Huatulco...so far!

2008-01-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

Pina Palmera

So I´ve finally been able to get to email-it hasn´t been easy. Great journey from NYC to Denver to Huatulco on Saturday! I don´t have much time to write, so i´ll try to throw down some pics.

"Muchas Maletas Sin Similares"

I can tell you this-This group of people that I am working with are AMAZING!!-Things got off to a very exciting start. We almost lost two of our team, Gary and Duann at the flight changeover in Denver (they were both transporting important equipment; scopes, telometers, sutures and other assorted medical supplies-- it´s a good thing they made the flight as there wasn´t another one til a week later.)

"Senor Gary, our Interpreter and Dr. Brian LaGreca, our Opthamologisticalifragilistic."

...I fully anticipated working in any capacity for which I was needed, BUT on our first day at the clinic, Duann (our awesome Circulating Nurse) got sick AND I had to fill in for her!! Ha ha! I was kind of nervous at first, but then I was fine. I ended up assisting in 4 eye surgeries that day and 5 more the next day!! In fact, I never thought I would say this seriously, but "they need me back in surgery!" ha ha!

Check out the pics below!

Con mucho gusto,

El Jeffe

Cerro Largo, where we are staying. Most days are very busy, but on our first day here, my bro and I managed to get out for a surfing excursion. (or as I like to call it: an "eating-sand-and-swallowing-salt-water" excursion.)

This is Joyce, another fantastic volunteer and Dr. Tracy´s mom. The man to her left is the one and only, David Duprey. He got this whole thing started; quite an energetic, interesting, incredible and vivacious man.

Duann and Dr. Tracy. Tranquilete!

Patients waiting to be examined: Some people walk from miles away and have never had any kind of health care in their lives. They are amazingly friendly and patient, sometimes waiting late into the evening for surgery...and never a complaint.

David and I suited up for surgery!

This is my favorite pic so far. The next day after surgery, the patients from the day before arrive to have there bandages removed. Many of them are legally blind and have not seen clearly in years! It is joyous, emotional and rewarding for all.

This truck costs something like 9 BILLION pesos!

Arroz con Mariachi!

2008-01-15T23:40:00.001-05:00

So, my brother Brian, (who is much smarter than me) has asked me to bring my guitar with me when I come down to Huatulco, Mexico this coming week.

This could be a good thing or a bad thing, because truth be told, I am a pretty sucky guitar player. But nevertheless, if music be the food of love, give me that and a side of chili rejeno, right?!

I hope he realizes though, that I hope to start up my own local Mariachi band there. Except I want to see if I can get all the local little kids to sing "Rock You like a Hurricane" or "Can't Touch This" or perhaps some trippy Doors/Jim Morrison rant.

Yeah, that would be cool. In our spiffy black Antonio Banderas "Desperado" outifits.

Oh hell, I'll keep practicing La Bamba.
J

"¿Padre?

¿Si, hijo?

Quiero matarle...

ESTE ES EL FINAL. EL FINAL MI AMIGOOO...*

(*spanish lyrics to the Doors, The End courtesy of SpanishTranslate.com)

Tetanus Anyone?

2008-01-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

Hi,

So, I have to go get my Tetanus shots, Hepatitus A and Typhoid shots this week.
I'm pretty excited as I am going to work as a volunteer at the Pina Palmera mission in Hualtulco, Mexico. I leave on the 19th and return to NYC on the 28th.

It should be a really cool experience. I'm basically going to be helping them out in any way I possibly can. The real "pros" are all the MDs, Dentists and surgeons coming from all parts of the world. My brother, Brian is one of them.

I don't anticipate doing many eye surgeries, but ya never know. Perhaps in some sort of weird Walter Mitty--esque scenario, someone will call out. "LaGreca!, we need you to restore the eyesight of our wise and ancient village elder!" And forgetting that my much smarter and way more qualified surgeon brother, Brian (who also has the last name of LaGreca) is present, I leap into the fracas with my Swiss Army knife ready to attach corneas and cocsis and other "c" words of the physiological nature!!

Wow, I'm pumped.
Jeff

(Pic: That's my brother, Bri. Rockin' the

microspectrometrasmagalisis machine.)

*

"Con Mucho Carino!"

2008-01-15T10:23:00.000-05:00

...is a phrase my mom always uses when she signs off a letter to me. It roughly translates to "Dream fiercely, Sad little pastry!"

Okay, it doesn't really*, but I like to think that everything I say in spanish translates into that!

Well, here it is January 15th and I've finally found the wherewithal to write in the blog. We had to close the show at the Bleecker street theater on Dec. 15th, 2007. Hey-we had a good run-3 months!!

Of course, we had hoped that the show would have run a bit longer, but let me tell you, keeping things going in New York City takes a LOT of work!

I mean this is THE city in the world where you can Do/See/Eat just about anything or anyone!
(Did I just say that?) So there is a lot of vying for attention in this city of jillions of people, and we were a little show plugging along with all of 'em. (see pic: actual size)

It was awesome to have had the opportunity to get to do some of the things that we were able to do! We had a great crew and cast and support and want to thank everyone involved!

Oh...and we also ain't done. (see pic left: Billy is saying "thumbs up!" ...so that must be a good thing!)

The show may very well return in one form or another, we just aren't sure what that is just yet.
We may be moving into a smaller theater with smaller rent or who knows? Maybe we'll go to Japan and do the Harajuku circuit.

(see pic- "takenoko-zoku, anyone?")

Anyway, please keep checking back to this space, because we anticipate lots of good upcoming stuff either Wage-related or new creative projects!

"Dream fiercely, sad little pastries!"
J

*with much care/love.

"in studio" bits

2007-12-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Hey,
Here's some "in studio" singing and bits that were featured on Michale Gilbo's show, Broadway Bullet.

Minimum Wage at the Big Apple Comic Con

2007-12-02T12:07:00.000-05:00

We had a great time making an appearance at the Big Apple Comic Con! Captain Zorich was our host and there was lots of good geeeeeeeekiness to go around. Lots of cool costumes, comics, fun people, cult celebrities and a big orange thing that kept freaking Elena out! Here's some vid that some kid took of the spatula fight (in the middle of the costume contest) Quality and lighting are not so great, but you can see that it was a fun atmosphere.

March of the Undead BurgerBoys!! Eek!

2007-11-14T17:39:00.001-05:00

So, we put together a "Spatulating" team of Undead BurgerBoys and Girls for the 2007 Halloween parade. It was an awesome time! We had about 20-25 undeads and we choreographed a short spatula dance to do on the march with all the other gazillion New Yorkers (and visitors) who do the parade every year. I have to say--It was a fantastically fun group of people --so much excitement and enthusiasm that I hope we can do it again for Puerto Rican Day parade. ;-) I'm going to try to get vids up of some of the action soon.

Pic: Jamie, Jerry and Charlie. Which is which, they're ALL green!

Meanwhile, MINIMUM WAGE is still chugging along at 45 Bleecker street! It has been an intense couple of weeks and we are doing everything we can to keep the show Alive! (Spooky Echo: Alive! Alive!)

Come on down and have a good time--we are still making improvements to the show and tucking our heads and scrapping it out! It's amazing that we are still having to work so hard to stay in one place. I think one of the characters in Alice in Wonderland said that. And I think it might have been the majorly stoned Caterpillar, but I could be wrong.

Pic: We were supposed to be Zombie Burgerboys, but I think we look

more like Arnold Schwarzenneggar in "Commando", a true classic.

Be big in your dreams, ninos!

Mini Wage on Broadway Bullet

2007-11-05T17:04:00.001-05:00

Hey B-peeps!
Check out our interview, etc on

http://www.broadwaybullet.com/

Picture: Mike Wang-(Thanks, Mike!)

45 Bleecker Street

2007-10-24T13:31:00.000-04:00

The Front of the Theater at 45 Bleecker street
Minimum Wage: Opening Night, October 20th, 2007
Photos: Mike Wang (thanks, Mike!)

the Heads of Judgement

2007-10-09T12:34:00.000-04:00

This is a video that was cut from the show. We decided to try to do this live and we are still working on how to make that work. One thing we are trying, is giant magnifying lenses in front of the live actors faces. We just got the lenses in from Egypt and they are made from the finest, polished Gerzean glass... Okay, really they are pieces of warped plastic.

I'm off to work on these with Carolyn Mraz our Props Mistress. She is fantastic! She really gets the Mini Wage aesthetic and she's fun to work with.
okay bye.
J

Long time no Blog! Do you come here often?!

2007-10-06T00:57:00.000-04:00

hey burger boys and girls!
well ever since the ol show has opened, i guess we've all gotten a little lazy about the blogging situation.... SO! HERE I AM!

tonight was an interesting show.
somethings happened before the show, during notes, with myself, that later came back to haunt me like a smelly nightmare, but we wont go there.

it was a good time tonight. it was charle's birthday today.... he's 72. what a guy.
for some reason, the song "dreams" was extra special tonight, and a few of us got emotional. i tend to get that way each night we sing that song.
you know it's like, here we are, such good friends, doing this show, making people smile, and we've worked so hard, and i dunno, it just always hits home for me.
so many people in my life have been so supportive of me and my dreams, that when we sing that song it all comes out.

so on a lighter note.
honey nut cheerios in the morning.

tug boat, out!

And their OFF!!!!!.............Broadway!

2007-09-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Wow. So the day arrived. We had our opening night. We had a pretty full house so that was exciting and the show went well.

Some cleaning up to do but we're in previews and logistics to figure out with the ending. I can't say what cuz that will give it away but definite things to figure out. So that's what we'll do over the next few weeks.

There were some definite new elements that got amazing reactions out of the audience and that was a cool thing. And I think each character has great standout moments.

It's funny cuz one would think..." once we open we can just sit back and do the show"...but that is definitely not the case. I know that will come but it's a matter of the show finding all the beats.

Now time to tighten, tighten...tighten.

And hope they come...out! Not of the closet...but to the show.

2007-09-25T01:40:00.001-04:00

Okay...so I fell off the wagon and it's 1:33 am in the morning and my day is finally coming to an end.

Whew.

But i'm FINALLY blogging!

So what's going on? Well, rehearsing...designing postcards, rehearsin, designing banners and other stuff.

My fave so far....Door Wraps! What? You mean like the Goat Cheese Spinach Arugula sandwich thingies @ cosi?
No...I'm talking 8 ft images of each Wager!

So here they is...I can't wait til they arrive at the theatre and we get to put them up.

Yay!

And if you haven't gotten enough of my bloggin then something is wrong with you. But I won't deny you, so you can go listen to me rant about the show and losing my biggest Cartoon Client....Disney this past week.
:(

www.indiespinnerrack.com

Okay...Enjoy...now I must sleep.

Gulp!

2007-09-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

Holy Crap! We open next week.

Here's a Minimum Wage comic:

nerves

2007-09-16T17:45:00.000-04:00

i have a confession....

i'm late on my blog. it should have been on friday, and today is sunday. that means i'm 2 days late.

it's like i'm e-Pregnant.

how did this happen you may ask?

we blogged. we blogged so hard. all those keystrokes. tab tab tab.

now i want you to blog. i want you to blog so bad. i want the biggest blog ever. then blog on my blog.

i'm writing non-sense things down today, because i'm very nervous.
i don't even really get nervous and i'm nervous.

i remember one time i flew to washington dc to perform for the president.
i was scantily clad and stuffed into an over sized cake.... ready to bust out and sing.
even then i wasn't nervous.

i am now.

i went out with my awesome roommates last night and had some drinks.
that helped.
and laundry.

what a weird blog this has been for me.
was it weird for you?

To be a Burgerboy ...

2007-09-12T11:15:00.000-04:00

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it."

--Thucydides

Like anything worthwhile, this experience is not without it's challenges. We are currently being challenged in many ways , some expected and others difficult to comprehend.

All the more reason, to dig in and keep going and to figure out ways to make what needs to happen, happen.

Whenever I used to encounter someone who is angry, mean-spirited, bitter, bitchy or just plain, irascible, I used to meet them with a 'like' attitude. Meaning, I returned fire, thinking I needed to defend myself against such a negative onslaught.

I feel differently now, I tend to have a huge amount of empathy for them. They were probably placed in my path to teach me something, and difficult as they may be, I can sometimes see that many times these people are trying to do their best in whatever misguided way they see fit. But sometimes I wonder if they have somehow kind of forgotten who they are deep down and become lost and disillusioned and maybe have forgotten how to follow their own passions. Dreams, desires, hopes, wants--whatever you want to call it.

You have to tend your dreams. Otherwise, how can we make a difference in a mad, mad world if we don't take care of our very own backyard?

Because in essence, we don't change the world! We change OURSELVES...and in so doing, change the world. When one does that "which is good for oneself" it enables and empowers one to be GOOD for others.

Now, I don't mean some frivolous, "I want to be the Captain of Mars" bullshit.

"Vision without a task is only a dream. A task without a vision is but drudgery. But vision with a task is a dream fulfilled."

--Willie Stone

I'm talking about putting in the work and recognizing all dreams, real, big or small, the things that make you vibrate with life. Creating and loving a family. Running in a marathon. Singing in a group on tuesday nights. Learning to play the piccolo.

The "little" things that make you appreciate being part of this thing called L-I-F-E!

MINIMUM WAGE and the people involved in it, see, to understand this concept. Becoming AWARE of the dream that lives inside of each one of us, ACKNOWLEDGING it, doing what we can to PURSUE it and then doing whatever we can to ENCOURAGE that in others! To help others to realize and live THEIR dreams! To awaken and inspire, to hope and to love ...and to laugh.

This is what it means to be a Burgerboy. (Or Burgergirl, as the case may be.)

So, ask youself:

Am I forgetting or neglecting some part of myself, some little dream element that represents what is best about me? Chances are, what's best for you might be best for the rest of us. So plan that trip to Italy. Say hello to the cute girl across the hall. Make Peanut Butter sandwiches and give them out for free. There's room for all of us to dream.

It doesn't matter how big your dream is, nino, all that matters is that you are BIG in your dream. Be big in your dream.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them!" --Henry David Thoureau

2007-09-10T14:53:00.000-04:00

Okay okay. So yeah , I missed last week. It was the whole Labor day thing...oh and I was too STUPIFIED by the magic that is Will Bryan!

But I've recovered and have lots to share.

1. I've reworked our logo. For the first time ever we are getting the opportunity to work with an Advertising team. The group we're working with is EMG and they are frytastic. One of the things they helped us with was the approach to the logo. Our old logo while fun really doesn't communicate what we are. We could be a Cartoon Show, a pizza place, A Septaugenarian Camp, who knows. Here is a pic of the old one.

I played with many different ideas. And I'll probably continue tweeking it, but here is our latest.

2. I got an email from an old chummity chum today that blew my mind. Karey Montoya James a sweet big hearted friend of mine from Denver is FLYING out to see our very first show. Can you believe that? Who does that? I am so blown away by the generosity to do such a thing. And she's not some wealthy theatre buff, she's a regular joe like the rest of us. So... talk about support! We did OLIVER together back in the day in Denver, Colorado, she was part of the whole Denver Original Scene Theatre, which years ago sadly closed. I'll have to see if she can sneek some of my familiy in her luggage. We're Mexican and small so maybe it's possible.
:P

Okay, still lots to do. Jeff and I still doing minor tweeks to script and I'm doing all the signage for the front of the theatre. Oh yeah, and learn my lines and vocal parts and choreography and ..... AAAAGHHHHHH!

well..... Will!

2007-09-07T23:59:00.000-04:00

so i took it upon myself to google everyone named will bryan and show why they pale in comparison to our illustrious musical director Will Bryan....

I blacked-out the eyes on the other Will Bryan's, not to hide their identity, but to save you from turning into stone upon looking into them.

chao.

...the 6th reason why...

2007-09-06T15:59:00.000-04:00

...AND he's also related to William Jennings Bryan , an American lawyer, statesman, and three-time Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States. (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) He was one of the most popular speakers in American history, he was noted for his deep, commanding voice.

Would you like a Big Ass with your meal?...

2007-09-01T00:03:00.000-04:00

hello everyone!

well today's rehearsal was cut short because we had a sick member of the group. poor little billy. i think we are all just passing the sickness around in the cast now, so it won't hit us come performance time.

truth be told i know the real reason why billy got sick.....
well, a few days ago billy and i decided to make the worlds largest hamburger as part of our character study for the show. now, you are probably asking yourself, "so how did he get sick?" well... after we made the hambrger (which weighed almost 80 pounds) i put billy on his knees, duck taped him to a counter, and shoveled the entire hamburger into his mouth.
soon after his body was riddled with too much deliciousness and protein, and it started to reject the burger.

he's still recuperating, but hey at least we got in the Ripley's Believe it or Not show.

To Hair is Human...

2007-08-30T14:06:00.000-04:00

Hi Pals,
So my hair has been REALLY long for almost a year and I am having trouble parting with it. Especially since chicks seem to dig it! ;-)

.

We are trying to decide whether or not to incorporate it into the design of the characterWHAT DO YOU THINK?? Send me a COMMENT and let me know which you like better.

So, things are going very well. Of course, we are working our buns off. Right now my day looks like this.
Sleep
wake up around 8 or 9 am.
warm up
Producer Business/Phone Calls/Web Stuff/Crew stuff/PR stuff
Forget to Eat something
Go to Rehearsal
Rehearse
Come home.
Remember to eat something.
DO Re-writes until 2am. S

ometimes, if I'm lucky I get to go to Yoga.
best,
J

My first Blog

2007-08-28T23:21:00.000-04:00

Wow. This is my first blog. My cast members said they would kill me if I didn't get into the flow...So, here I go. The rehearsal process is going very well. Sometimes I get nervous that we will run out of time with Guy Stroman because of our limited time with him but I know it will all work out in the end. The cast is gelling and the creative team is second to none. We are truly blessed to have the team we have assembled. As I described at the first rehearsal, when I played baseball growing up I always day dreamed about being on the Little League All Star Team with the best players in the league. I feel like I am doing that with Minimum Wage right now. We have assembled my dream team. From the directors to our Executive Producer Team, to the Creative Team, everyone is just kicking ass right now. I am very proud.

I will say it right now in this blog: this show is going to be a success. It is going to sell and we are going to have a blast entertaining audiences for months to come. It's a dream man. We are living a dream. I am not promising the next big Broadway hit. But, I am predicting that whoever comes into that theatre is going to have fun, they are going to tell their friends about the fun they had, and word will spread. That is a given. The reason I feel this way is everyone involved with this show is a fun maker. We specialize in helping people be happy and kick back. Right now in rehearsal we are working our butts off to build a monster of entertainment, giggles and escape for our audiences one poop joke at a time. Goodnight ya'll. See you at 45 Bleeker in a month. Buy tickets tomorrow at burgerboys.com because the discount is going away by the end of the week.

REHEARSALS and MORE!

2007-08-28T09:07:00.000-04:00

So we've officially started our 6-8 hour rehearsal days. Whew! It's fun but exhausting.

DIRECTOR!

Guy Stroman our Director is an amazing match to our style of working. Guy actually worked with Stuart Ross and starred in Forever Plaid. I think back all th0se years ago when Jeff and I lived in Colorado and people would say "Minimum Wage" reminds me of a twisted contemporary version of "Plaid". Since I heard this so much it worried me and so I refused to see "Plaid" cuz i wanted to remain autonomous from it's influence. And now, here we are working with someone who I never imagined I would get the chance. Someone who's show is one of the most popluar OFF BWAY hits in American History. THRILLING!

Guy matches our style so well, cuz he enjoys working on the fly and crafting or reworking stuff as we go along, so the show is getting minor tweeks in all the right places. And it's also involves the cast so it's great cuz we get their insights, feelings about characters etc. I think it will only strengthen the show cause we're all trying for the best result. This challenges Jeff and I to go home after our rehearsals and write new scenes to help the project, often times staying up til 2 am or getting up at 6 am before our early calls so that we can have new stuff to read and see how it works. So that has been a great experience.

FRINGE CLOSING PARTY! (goodbye my lil Friend Fringe, we'll see you next year!)

Well, last night was the FringeNYC closing party and we performed the song "Dreams" from our show. We were so thankful and honored that Elena and FringeNYC would ask us. And I had a blast seeing all the familiar faces and outstanding award winners. So wonderful to see so many creators packed into one room.

BUT....Well..we didn't get to sound check and as we attempted to get through the song, it was just riddled with feedback and varying levels. Eventually it was just too much for us and we put the mics down and stepped forward and sang without sound.

If it was a small house I think I would have been fine, but it was a packed event and so I overcompensated to be heard. STUPID MISTAKE!

It was terrible. Not the best way to kick off our first performance in public for this run and I'm really feeling the effects today and very concerned. My throat is so raw it feels like shredded wheat or like I have strep or something. I think from now on, we're going to HAVE to request soundchecks, otherwise, we'll kill ourselves.

I'm going to have to be quiet all day and just hope that the rest will help. We start 7 hour rehearsals again today and I'm just praying I'll be ok.

BURGER SUITS?!?!

I'm also excited cuz for the very first time we'll have a costumer on our show. He's truly amazing and has a ton of experience under his belt. We've usually had a person to consult and do minor things but this is going to be different. I can't wait to discuss and flesh out the characters more and give them each their unique quality.

I've included a few pics of new character sketch ideas I did just for fun.

And thats it for today...

Ahhh...the road to OFF BWAY!

The Morning After...

2007-08-24T12:50:00.000-04:00

So, last night was really really cool.
It was our first time to be with some of the creative team all at one big table doing a read through. I must admit, at first I was so excited that my heart was racing faster than Lindsay Lohan's on 2 8-Balls of coke.
Today is our first really long rehearsal with the illustrious Guy! AND I had to go to Aruba Productions today to run an errand for Charlie...
So I decided to document the trip to Aruba and our land marking rehearsal with pictures!
This is me ready for the day...

This is the Aruba Logo I found out side their door way...

This is the lobby of the place where we are rehearsing. Nice, eh? The guy behind the desk makes you stop so he can take your picture and everything!

This is Guy and Jeff talking...

My home girl E-slice oing over some new script ideas...

Billy, doing an impersonation of Elvis, but somehow looking worse than the king did, even when he was found dead next to a toilet filled with narcotics and poo.

Jeff preparing our throats ....

And finally Chalire being.... well... Charlie...

So THAT! my fair feathered friends is a verrrrry brief visual run down our day today, and I MUST be off to bed!

I must admit, I am so excited about this show. Words can't explain.

peace

NYC to Baltimore and back to NYC

2007-08-24T01:48:00.000-04:00

Hey,
Just got back from Baltimore. Billy and I were both on a corporate gig for a big Rite Aid conference. It actually turned out to be a lot of fun--we were able to work with some really cool people in the cast and David G. Armstrong, who is a wonderful director.

This is the third time I have worked with this production company--the last time I worked with them it was in New Orleans and three days later Hurricane Katrina hit. I'd have been smack dab in the middle of Katrina had my time line been a bit different. Kinda makes ya think, ya know?

Anyway, we did kind a of a cool show that was a parody of old black and white courtroom dramas. The entire live performance was in black and white and so the sets, the costumes and the makeup were all in black and white. Really cool idea. Here's a pic of Billy as the Attorney for the Defense.

Yeah, it looks a little bit freaky, but the overall effect is pretty cool when you see it all within context.

Here's a pic of me as the Bailiff

I look like a fat gray smurf or Dennis Franz in a samurai movie.

Notice David in his bright orange sweater in the background! Cool, huh?

Anyway, good to be back in NYC and to start rehearsals for Mini Wage!

fritattas,

-Jeff

Spanglish

2007-08-23T08:53:00.000-04:00

Hi Guys and Gals!

I missed my blog last night, so please forgive me. BUT I'M HERE NOW!!!!

So, what shall we chat about today......

Well, it's morning and I'm relaxing a bit before the day starts. I think early mornings are my favorite time of the day.
They always start with me walking blindly towards the kitchen to perk up that coffee. Boy that smell wakes up my veins and my eyes slowly begin to open.....do I have an addiction? NAH!! Don't be silly.....

So then, I sit in front of the computer and go through some emails, make some calls, get my calendar in order.

Let's see what today will bring.

First I have a McDonalds voice over audition where I'll have to talk about the new Big Mac Burger deal.....mmmmmmmmmm.........how fitting for a burger girl.

Then I'm off to do a voice over for the MTV Tres Artist of The Month. This is where I have to read everything in english with an MTV hipster voice and then suddenly give my spanish flair during the MTV "TRES" tagline. Sort of like Spanglish.

I learned SPANGLISH from my Dad. You never know what language he's going to speak. Sort of like this......."Can you bring the agua from the table para el almuerzo Elena?" Then sometimes he means one thing but is really saying something totally different. Really not Spanglish at all......just plain confusing. For example, last weekend at a wedding this is what he said, "Hey those people on the dance floor are like the TIFFANY dancers eh?" We all smile, but don't really know what the hell he means. Then my Mom turns to us and whispers "He means CHIP AND DALES dancers." So yeah, MTV Tres is a piece of cake.

OK......so then at some point I have to walk Otis, my dear little french bulldog. Here's a picture of him, the other love in my life.

Later I'm off to rehearsals with the guys.

Well, It's time to start my day.........Adios Amigos!!!

Elena or Piercy

Fringe Central, First Check and Hairstyles?

2007-08-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

TICKETS available at http://www.burgerboys.com/

Wow. So it's been a crazy week. Lots of Woodsmen and Hipsters.

What can i tell you guys...well...I 've been spending tons of time at Fringe Central(FC) for the Fringe Festival. We have a Minimum Wage booth there and are selling Tix for 50% off ...only $20! It's just during the Fringe Fest so it's a fantastic deal. So we have to staff the booth, man it, and make sure it's pretty. In the course of 3 weeks we've moved the booth 3 times until finding the perfect spot. I have to say thanks to all the SUPER friends and Burgerpals that have helped us. We've had to cover over 150 hours thus far, so it' hasn't been a bunwalk. Fun though.

Here are some shots of the set up a few weeks back and some of our fave fringe friends at FC.Booth Location Numero Uno.

K Bartlett helps hang the signage!

Jill gives tips - "No Kev, Higher to the Left!", while Alexa "Fringe Goddess #2" actually makes it out front for a breather.

Carolyn Writer/Director "Antarctica" with a bag of SCHTUFF!

Taty (Chuck Norris) maintains the fringenyc website.

The week was also full of meetings meetings meetings.

Was at Aruba production several times where we met and interviewed a ton of creative types such as lighting designers, Stage Managers, costumers, Set Designers and more for our killer burgerboy theatrico sqaud.

Only one more day of interviews and then it will hopefully be done and we'll be ready to go. WHEW!

While there one day I got to meet Joe Corcoran the gent who brought "Tony & Tina's wedding" to the world. He was very nice and I got to hear the scoop on their secret marketing ideas and such, which were actually pretty cool.

I also got to see the first check from our investor. It made my third testicle drop. It actually had quite an effect on me and we're a tiny show. We don't got tons of bank like other OFF BWAY, We really are a grass roots gang, LEAN AND MEAN... but we got help. And to see and know that someone believes in my brother and my vision so much that they have truly invested in us. Well, it made my week!

And lastly, it's time to start thinking about Orwell's look for the show. Here are the fun hair straightened results. The next question...should I dye it? And should I keep the glasses for the guy? hmmm....

Look our Chris Angel i'm coming for you. I just need news abs and some leather pants!

Ok, so thats it for this week... ORWELL out!

Why see Minimum Wage?

2007-08-17T12:16:00.001-04:00

Minimum Wage

opens September 28th, 2007 Off Broadway

the Bleecker Street Theater

45 Bleecker Street, NYC

tix: www.burgerboys.com

Hello all.... even though Jeff technically blogged on my day, i'm still glad he did..... i'm just going to have to break at least 2 of his knees.

Now then!!!! I thought I would share with you a dialog I heard between a new york Hipster, and a Rural Woodsmen out side of our theatre at 45 Bleeker....

Hipster: Wow that show looks, like, amazing. I just have this feeling that the cast will change my life with their voices and comedy. I feel a deep connection all ready.

Woodsman: You wanna talk about a deep connection you little punk? How about this deep connection... I was in the middle of the Amazon Rain Forest, with nothing but the shredded clothes on my back. After suffering terrible dysentery from drinking the infected river water i tried to get some sleep. However, during my slumber a snake came to me, bit me, and riddled my body with deadly poison. Just when I thought I was dead, from the depths of the forest appeared the cast of Minimum Wage. They looked at my snake bite, and instead of sucking the poison out, they began to sing in a deliciously nourishing harmony and the sound waves lifted the poison from my body and exploded in air. After they performed their life saving song, they faded back into the forest. THAT my young friend, is a deep connection. I've had their voices IN me.

Hipster: Wow. that's, like, amazing. So are you gonna see the show?

Woodsman: Of course. ... ...but I need a date.

Hipster: (**clears throat and looks awkward**)

Woodsman: ...I really like your neck tattoo.

Photo Schmooot with K-Dawg!!

2007-08-17T01:00:00.000-04:00

Minimum Wage

opens September 28th, 2007 Off Broadway

the Bleecker Street Theater

45 Bleecker Street, NYC

tix: www.burgerboys.com

Hola Burgerbuns,

Sheesh, I'm tired. I just got home about an hour ago and had to weed thru 800 emails in my mailbox. And now I am here to blog to you.

Isn't Blog a stupid word? Actually, one of the most hated phrases coined on the internet is "blogosphere". I think it was the second most despised. What lame assbag came up with that?

So we had a photo shoot today. Our good friend and excellent photographer ( among his many talently talents) Kevin Scott agreed to do a photo shoot with us this morning. We have always affectionately referred to him as K-Dawg since the FringeNYC festival in 2002. I cannot say enough good things about him! Absolutlel LOVE him!!

And when I say this morning, I mean we were up at 5:30 am carting a duffle bag full of costumes to the Pit Theater in Manhattan. We were able to commence shooting around 7 am in the Pit Theater space. If you haven't ever been to the Pit, you should check it out-some really great improv goes on there and we know many of their regulars. Such luminaries as Kevin Scott, Kimmy Gatewood, Jen Nails, Ptolemy Slocum and many others...

Anyway, here's a quick vid of this early morning debacle.
balls,
J

To Be A Burger Girl

2007-08-15T17:19:00.000-04:00

Today was hot.....
I felt sticky as I ran around the city, but I didn't let that get me down.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, I found myself in front of the FRINGE headquarters....ready to sell some tickets. I realized after waiting for a purchaser that maybe I should have worn a bikini. YES!!! That's brilliant! I'll do it next time and get some real sales BURGERBOYS!!! Don't tell my Mom though!

Yours Truly,
PIERCY

Minimum Wage's Burgerboy Blog KICKS OFF!!!

2007-08-14T08:47:00.000-04:00

Hey Burger Mavens!

Starting today, we're officially starting our Burgerboy Blog. Each of our burger squad will blog everyday to give you the ins and outs as we prepare for our Off Bway run.

Heres how it will work:

Orwell: Mondays

Bradbury: Tuesdays

Piercy: Wednesdays

Hux: Thursdays

Titus: Fridays

We think it's a cool way to document taking our small show from it's grassroots to well...more grassroots. : P

And it will be interesting to see 5 different points of view.

So I guess I'll start with my rundown of last week. BTW, I know, I know...we're starting on Tuesday. I came home at 11:45 pm after a super full day of meetings and rehearsal and fell asleep on the couch.

It's quite amazing how fast everything has to move once you've signed that theatre lease and have your team on board. That's when the realization kicks in "Holy Gumballs, we're doing in this and we have a million things to prep!"

So I got to go down to our theatre 45 Bleecker St. and met with Louis who runs the joint. We had a great discussion about space for putting up signage and I also got to look over the place and see all the renovations that have taken place.

It's really gonna be great when they are finished. There is going to be a cafe/bagel shop in the lobby, with double doors that open to the street and there are tons of windows so it will be really nice place to hang and have a cup of j.

I'm happy to say there is TONS of space for signage on the building. 45B has two theatres and they are officially opening for business in september with our show...Minimum Wage and hopefully another soon to be announced.

So we discussed our signage, what spaces we could have, etc. I got totally excited by this as we've NEVER had a theatre that was our own where we could hang signage and really make it our own. So, I immediately went home and drafted an image in photoshop to estimate costs and how it would look visually. The image is below, but unfortunately cuz it's 75 dpi it's pretty muddy.

Ok. thats it for today. I'm off to Aruba Productions where we are interviewing all kinds of positions to be filled for the show, such as Stage Manager, Set Designer, Lighting, and more. then it's off to another rehearsal.

Whew. Gonna be another long one!

MiNiMUM WaGE to open (finally!) OFF BROADWAY!!

2007-08-09T00:59:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official.

We are finally officially, officiallllly opening the show, MiNiMUM WAGE in New York City! We are working with Aruba Productions and everyone is very excited about this version of the show. It's been a long haul since the first version of this show at FringeNYC in 2002, but damn, it's pretty cool!

We're going to be working our butts off. (I'm already shagged out right now, we had nothing but meetings, meetings, meetings today!!)

Check this out! This is one of our new poster designs.

We met with Barbara, Taryn and Elizabeth, our advertising pros to discuss 'em. (Big first for us--usually our advertising was as elaborate as a plate of meatballs that spelled out "Mimim Wag." We couldn't help ourselves and usually ate the "n", the "u" and the "e."

..."e's" are tasty.)

You may not see this design around town though, I don't think the folks at EMG liked it very much. Something about we need to show more thigh.

Gargoyle Garden pix and more!

2006-10-31T01:24:00.000-05:00

From drawing to photo for Gargoyle Garden Premiere, Oct. 28-29,2006. Drawings by Charlie LaGreca. Costumes by Cristina Hernandez and Nicole Quinones. Garret Eucker as Edgar Allen Densmore and Maddie Weinstein as Annabel Lee.

Al Gillespie as the Chimney Man surrounded by the Astoria Symphony at the Historical Society performance in the Quinn Building. Music by B. Allen Schulz, Libretto by yours truly.

The Gargoyles backstage, a fun and freakish trio: Bill Caleo, Elizabeth Mondragon and Marshall York.

John Taylor plays the villainous and sour mooded Brother Keyes. Pictured with Garret Eucker as Edgar.

The GARGOYLE GARDEN (excerpt)

2006-10-27T10:08:00.000-04:00

"Edgar Allen Densmore sat
atop his residence hall
seven times his parents failed to come
and visit him this fall.

It really wasn't all their fault
for they were quite the busy lot
and Edgar read their dismal letters
on this, his fav'rite spot.

Up three winding staircases
to the rooftop in decay
past the bent and twisted, rusty gate
where the Gargoyle Garden lay.

A strange abnormal rooftop
with stone statues bent in place,
fearsome creatures with wings and horns
and fangs upon their face.

They nested on the cracking walls.
They lounged in crumbling piles.
The bathed in crippled fountains,
with demented, fragmented smiles..."

The Gargoyle Garden-WORLD PREMIERE CONCERT

2006-10-20T14:18:00.000-04:00

October 28 & 29, 2006-

The Gargoyle Garden tells the tale of a Edgar Allen Densmore, a lonely little boy who has trouble fitting in with the other students at Piedmont Private School,

Spending his free time alone amidst the fascinating stoney statues on his dormitory rooftop, he one day receives a mysterious invitation to attend a strange and raucous moonlit party in the decaying, rooftop garden.

Saturday, October 28^th, 2006, 2:00pm

Gotham City Improv Theater

48 W. 21^st Street, 8^th Floor, Buzzer #13

MANHATTAN, NY 10010

Tix: $20/$15/$5 for kids under 12

Sunday, October 29^th, 2006, 3:00pm

The Quinn Building

35-20 Broadway (@36^th st.), 4^th Floor

ASTORIA, QUEENS 11103

Tix: $18/$12/FREE for kids under 12

The Gargoyle Garden marks the second time that the Astoria Music Society’s, Conductor Silas Huff and Composer B. Allen Schulz have teamed up with comedy writer, Jeff LaGreca after last years successful and hilarious retelling of the Prokofiev classic, (The Trial of) Peter and the Wolf.

MINIMUM WAGE FringeNYC "shoutout" to the WATERTOWER CREW!!

2006-08-05T14:49:00.000-04:00

Hey, As we get ready to present the show this year at FringeNYC 06 (we were chosen as an Alumni showcase!-Cool!) this is a quick shout out to the amazing crew and people of the WaterTower theater in Texas! We did our show there in March 2006 and they were the most fun, down to earth and professional group of people to be around. Great staff with James, Terry, Landrie, Andy, Stacey and all. If you are ever in Addison, check them out. www.watertowertheater.org in the bathtub, from left to right are: Ashley, Abbby, Heidi, Jeff, Flink, Charlie, and Adam-taking the picture was Elena!

We're Podcasting for FringeNYC

2006-08-02T00:19:00.000-04:00

Hola Burger Pals,
So my bro, Charlito and I are both doing the official podcast of the New York International Fringe Festival--should be a butt load of fun! The name of our podcast show is the FringeClub Variety Power Hour! Kind of a throwback to the weekend morning Superfriends/Sid & Marty Kroft type shows of Saturdays gone by. Cuz we are going to have SUPER guests from as many shows as possible at FringeNYC this year and of course, we'll have our own cast members from Minimum Wage (Bill Caleo, Elena Meulener and Tony Daussat) making appearances!

Well, it's the Fringe Festivals Official... Live Talk Show Variety Party Podcast Get Drunck Schmooze Connect Vibrate Super Friends meet the Justice League kind of affair! As veterans of past Fringe's know, what really makes the NYC Fringe special is the opportunity to connect with various inhabitants from all over Fringedom! We want to facilitate that and really help to find and bring out the community in FringeNYC this year. That's why we in tandem with Elena K Holy created this show. It is a chance to promote all the great productions at the Fringe and to come together, reach out and amplivate our beings into a higher realm of existence!

Sounds cool, huh?

You can download and hear our first podcast here:

http://www.evoca.com/everyone_recording.jsp?rid=13711

Also, don't forget to get tix to our show MINIMUM WAGE here:
www.fringenyc.org

Cheers!

The Gargoyle Garden, a children's opera

2006-07-08T19:05:00.000-04:00

I have been commissioned by the Astoria Symphony to write the Libretto for a new opera for their 2006-2007 season!
I will be working with B. Allen Schulz, a very talented composer (Rage & Reflection, Thump) as well as esteemed conductor Silas Huff, with whom I had the good fortune of working on last years successful update of Peter & The Wolf, aka THE TRIAL of PETER & MR. WOLF (performed in October of 2005 for the Creepy Kids Concert.) The GARGOYLE GARDEN is based on an illustrated story by my brother Charlie & I and tells the tale of a lonely little boy who receives a mysterious invitation to a strange party amongst the crumbling stone creatures that reside high up on his dormitory rooftop. The GARGOYLE GARDEN premieres October 29, 2006. Check back for more details or also check out http://www.astoriamusic.org/index.html

New York International Fringe Festival 2006 ALUMNI Showcase

2006-06-29T17:52:00.000-04:00

Hi Pals,

So the NYC Fringe is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year and as part of the celebration they have invited back 10 of their favorite shows. And you guessed it, they have asked us to bring back MINIMUM WAGE:Blue Code Ringo.

We're very excited to be back and have an awesome lineup of Mini Wagers!

Billy Caleo as Bradbury,

Elena Meulener as Piercy,

Charlie LaGreca as Orwell,

Jeff LaGreca as Hux

and Tony Daussat as Titus.

It promises to be a great time and a really fun festival!

So keep watching this space for more info!

Muchas Fritos!
MW

The Pen and Ink Club

2005-11-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

--From Orwell, November 21st, 2005--

I graffitied a wall yesterday and I didn't get hauled away by the dirty coppers! Bwahaha
Ok..ok...that's not quite true...

Years ago many of America's great cartoonists would hang out together at a pub called Costello's which became known as the "The Pen and Ink Club". The story is that the owner of the restaurant cleared a wall and the Cartoonists were allowed to draw all over it. Sometimes even for their tab.

Since then, the bar has been renovated and is now the "The Overlook Lounge". The new owner wanted to continue the legacy of the bar and so he invited the National Cartoonists Society out for a night to draw on a spanking new wall sitting opposite the superstar wall that was drawn over 30 years ago.

So I was more than thrilled when I got an email asking me to bring my brushes and markers to partake in the cartoon defacing that would go down.

It was truly a wonderful day, so many great cartoonists showed up, in fact, many that you probably have read in the newspaper every day, the New Yorker, Wall Street Journal or even one of those Comeek Books. Word spread and many news channels came out to film the action. In fact, you may see my mug on Fox News this week...they filmed me as I was toiling away (I made sure to do it in my underpants so as to show my best side.) I was going to draw a rabid dinosaur or perturbed dragon...but alas....I noticed the others were doing characters they were known for...so I added "Squatty and Bernerd", from my comic strip that I do regularly for Disney Adventures Magazine. (see also www.clagreca.com)

Anyway, it was such an honor to be invited out and I just wanted to share the cool story. If you ever get the chance drop in to "The Overlook", talk to the owners (they are really great guys), gawk at all of the great art...and remember to say hello to "Bernerd and Squatty" as well.

I hope I can return in 30 years to do it again...I'm saving my underpants just in case.

Charlito La Greca aka Orwell6000

Overlook Lounge aka Bar
44225 E. 44th St.Bet. 2nd & 3rd Aves
NY, NY 10017 212.682.7266

Takin' Life by the Beans...er Balloons...er...Baloneys...

2005-11-23T17:37:00.000-05:00

My creative ventures have always reflected my attitude to the conditions in life that affect us all. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes melancholic, sometimes angry and sometimes ebullient. The essence of life is to live and love in every moment. However, it takes a great and peaceful warrior to be able to do this every day, much less every moment. But that is the path of the artist and the creative warrior, if you will. Not a warrior in the conventional sense, but a warrior who fights against indifference, a warrior who fights against ordinariness, a warrior who fights against sleepwalking through this thing we call life!

How do we wake ourselves up? By living, by loving, by laughing. Love is really the only constant and after that everything else falls into place. No need to resist life, just do your best and relax into the world. Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you imagine! The Joy you bring is equal to the Joy you will receive, to paraphrase John Lennon. Life is full of paradox and change, but in order to live it, really live it, we have to remain awake in the moment and love and laugh as much as we ...zzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Welcom MiniWage fans!

2005-10-13T13:33:00.000-04:00

Hi,
It's a blog! Not a blob or a blurb or a blap...or a ...(cough)!
Check back for news-seeya!