Fri, 26 September 2008
Putting the Muse in Musical
The Innovise Guys are once again talking to The Artist's Way author Julia Cameron. This time it's about her new musical, The Medium at Large, written in collaboration with Emma Lively, her long-time creative collaborator. Emma, the Guys, and Julia talk about the show, set to open in previews October 17 and run October 19 through November 16 at the Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park, Illinois at 1010 Madison Street.
The spiritually inspired musical comedy deals with ghosts, romance, and mischief in New York City in 1938. The topic of the play was suggested at a dinner party by a grieving friend, features a medium character inspired by long-time friend and mentor Max Showalter, and stars renowned Chicago and Tony nominated actor John Herrara. Emma Lively observed, "The idea of the ghosts is incredibly rich -- leaving much room for mystery, inspiration, and humor. Our goal with this unusual love story is to remind the audience that we're never a lone, and those who have passed on are still with us." In the interview, the nature of inspiration is explored – “Many songs came to me complete with words and music”, said Julia. Adds Emma, “Yes, we believe that creativity is out there and artists are those who tap into that source and bring it into being.”
The playwrights and composers speak of the nature of collaboration, creative process, development, and of the fun, the play, and the humor that inspires their work. They also invoked the spirits of Rogers and Hammerstein. Artist’s Way devotees may find the play especially appealing, but it is a truly human play with universal themes of loss, love, connection and coping – with a lightening comfort – about those we hold dear who have passed on. The artists acknowledge that their blithe sense of humor infuses the work – so it should leave the audience “inspired and hopeful”. For more information and tickets, find it at www.village-players.org or by calling 866-764-1010. Sample video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lSoeETp3U
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Thu, 1 May 2008
Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore are at it again -- Breaking old paradigms and defining the next big thing. First, it was in their groundbreaking book The Experience Economy, which, nearly a decade ago, redefined the marketing landscape. Now it is with their new best-selling book Authenticity. This dynamic duo of "must do & must read" are featured in the March TIME Magazine issue on "10 Ideas that are Changing the World". It seems that in the realm of paradigm shifting, Joe and Jim only do heavy lifting. In this Innovise Guys' interview, the authors themselves tell all -- oh, well almost all -- so you still have to buy the book. Pine and Gilmore also offer a life-transforming event annually in the fall, which they call "Think About". For more information on that, go to: http://www.strategichorizons.com/SHthinkAbout.html. Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore can be reached at Strategic Horizons, LLP and at Pine&Gilmore@StrategicHorizons.com; 330-995-4680. You should find this interview, well, "authentic", if nothing else. Suffice to say, if these guys have an idea that is changing the world, you want to know about it. To link to more about their new book go to: http://authenticitybook.com/ |
Sat, 1 March 2008
Gushing with Gusto! To our Innovise Guys podcast listeners: "You are an immeasurable life force, saturated with infinite creative potential at this very moment ... From Siberia to the Serengetti, you are the ne plus ultra, the instantaneous creative, the best of the best at your best ... All of you --precedent- setting and paradigm shattering, bold and clever Argonauts tastefully continuing through the space-time continuum ..." How does that feel? Good, huh? These are but a few of compliments gleaned "Wickhead's Guide to Verbal Gusto" by JK (Jim Kelly) -- with whom we discuss the art of "dishing the upper" to one another, by finding the perfect compliment. JK is a former advertising copywriter turned author and a creative juggernaut and good-will ambassador who never travels life's highway without a Motherload of positive vibes and oodles of inventive energy. In the book he quotes Booker T. Washington -- "If you want to lift yourself, lift up someone else" and Bill & Ted -- "Be excellent to one another." And JK shows us how. In this interview, the author guides us through his motivations, the creative process and the uplifting content of his book. (Groundbreaking Press 2007) When he is not "dishing compliments" with the panache and flourish of "surf-speak" versions of Jame T. Kirk or Ace Ventura, Jim Kelly is an "Irishman at Large", stationed outside of Petaluma, California -- near Sonoma Creek -- at the Larson Family Winery. If you consider yourself even remotely "A deftly-skilled professional, thinking outside the box -- The Commissioner of Can-do", then this podcast is for you. For more information go to: www.groundbreaking.com, www.amazon.com and www.larsonfamilywinery.com.
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Sun, 27 January 2008
Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein first met as Harvard freshman in 1957. Their book, "Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes" (2007) is presently a best seller in both the humor and philosophy categories. Not bad for a couple of philosophy majors who tried on various careers after graduation. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dropped in and out of divinity schools. Dan has written jokes for various comedians, including Flip Wilson and Lily Tomlin. Tom lives on Cape Cod with his wife. Dan lives in the Berkshires with his wife. Together, they are also authors of the politically incorrect book of daily affirmations, "Macho Meditations". This interview is littered with jokes (WARNING: some are PG-13) with illustrative examples of how jokes are able to connect to a better understanding of philosophers and their philosophies. Of course, humor is an essential ingredient of creativity and old friends Dan and Tom briskly banter back and forth on their collaboration and also tell the story of their "Aha! Moment" -- that spawned the book idea. Not surprisingly, that moment took place in a light-hearted conversation over a couple of pints in a pub. So successful is this book that their publisher demanded an encore -- the newly published "Aristotle and an Aardvark go to Washington" -- offering humorous insights into political jargon employed by the real jokers in DC. The Innovise Guys assume you will guffaw, chortle, howl, abstractly "he-haw!" and even titter as much as did we through this rousing romp through the thoughtfully theoretical and silly cerebral philosophical phootnotes from Plato to modernity. You'll laugh 'til you think! www.platoandaplatypus.com
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Wed, 2 January 2008
Tim Hurson, author of Think Better, an Innovators Guide to Productive Thinking, talks to the Innovise Guys
Tim Hurson is one of the class acts in the creativity and innovation field. In this interview with The Innovise Guys he provides real insights into creative thinking and you get a slice of one of the best “thinkers about thinking? providing innovation services today. He has a lot going on, he’s written a fabulous new book -- Think Better, an Innovators Guide to Productive Thinking, he’s also the prime mover behind the MindCamp conference in Toronto (http://www.thinkxic.com/mindcamp/tastings.php), and Facilitators Without Borders, a group that provide pro bono facilitation services for communities in need. Tim talks about all these things, but mostly about how to “think better,? the challenges of writing and publishing, and the responses he’s received so far to his book. Tim is a founder of ThinkX Intellectual Capital (www.thinkxic.com) and an in-demand innovation consultant and public speaker. He is also is a great story teller with a great sense of humor, so this interview goes by in a flash.
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