Happy Holidays, Everybody!

Well, gang. That's it for me for the year. I know this site has had a dearth of content in the past few months, and to be honest, I can't say that will change in 2011.

In fact, the only reason why there's been any posting going on of late is because there are still a few things happening in my life (theatre-wise) that I feel I should share (read: blatant self-promotional plugs) and things that I find noteworthy from my friends and colleagues (read: blatant friend plugs).

But aside from that? Well, my interest level in blogging has (clearly) plummeted for many disparate reasons. Fear not: I shan't bore you with the details (they're seriously not that interesting).

Anyway, who's to say what 2011 will bring? I'll see y'all then (with inconsistent frequency). In the meantime, have wonderful holidays and a happy new year!

Putting on his snow pants,

James "New Hampshire-Bound" Comtois

Speaking at the December Fear Mongers

Hey, gang. For those of you still in the city, I'll be speaking at the Clay McLeod Chapman-curated lecture and Q&A Fear Mongers: Fireside Chats About Horror Tuesday night about the first horror film I saw in the theatre: Gremlins.

The fun takes place at Dixon Place on 161A Chrystie Street Tuesday, December 21 at 9 p.m. It's free, so make your reservations by calling 212-219-0736.

Also, check out clips, talks and interviews from previous Fear Mongers events here.

I've had a blast being an audience member for this series since Clay launched it in September, and now I'm doubly-psyched to be one of its guest lecturers.

Utterly terrified,

James "Public Speakerphobe" Comtois

Episode Three of Starboat

Starboat: Episode 3 - “The Sounding Alarm” from Pete Boisvert on Vimeo.

My Soundtrack Series Tale

The podcast of my telling a tale from my high school days at the increasingly popular Soundtrack Series is now up and available for your listening enjoyment here.

I use Rob Base’s “It Takes Two” to tell the tale of, believe it or not a fist fight (my first and last). It's not over a girl, but over the high school lunchroom jukebox.

And incidentally, the next Soundtrack Series happens tomorrow night (Friday) at 7 p.m. at The Gallery at (Le) Poisson Rouge on 158 Bleecker Street between Thompson and Sullivan. The evening will feature stories from Mac Rogers, Abe Goldfarb, Dan Kois, Lindsey Moore, and Brett Berk. And get this: all this is free.

No longer involving himself in jukebox wars,

James "Enough of That, Thank You" Comtois

The December Saloon This Saturday!

This Saturday at the Vampire Cowboys' Saturday Night Saloon...

Nosedive Productions presents

Starboat

Wheeeeeee!

A five-part space expedition yarn by James Comtois

Episode Four directed by Patrick Shearer

Featuring
Becky Byers — Stephanie Cox-Williams — Daryl Lathon
Stephen Heskett — Timothy McCown Reynolds — Adam Swiderski
Christian Toth — Ben VandenBoom

The crew of the U.S.S. Centurion are headed to Alpha Centauri for the first manned mission to another star system. They're not ready.

As part of the Vampire Cowboys' Saturday Night Saloon...

Saturday, December 18
at THE BATTLE RANCH

405 Johnson Avenue, 2nd Floor
(2.5 blocks from Morgan stop off L train)
For a map, Click here.

THEATRE WITHOUT RERUNS!
Season 4 includes six all-new exciting serialized plays including:

THE GHOST OF HENDERSON MANOR
written & directed by Temar Underwood

CONTROL ROOM
by Mac Rogers
directed by Jordana Williams

DEATH VALLEY
by Adam Scott Mazer
Directed by Dan Rogers

STARBOAT
by James Comtois
directed by Patrick Shearer

JACK O'HANRAHAN & THE ONE-SIDED WINDOW
by Brent Cox
directed by Padraic Lillis & Courtney Wetzel

KILLER HIGH
by Crystal Skillman
directed by Hope Cartelli

SALOON SCHEDULE
December 18, 2010
January 15, 2011

Produced by
Lex Friedman, Qui Nguyen, Abby Marcus,
Robert Ross Parker, Daniel Rech

Poster Artwork by Jeremy Arambulo

The Dangers of Making That Ape Dance

There's more nattering on horror & theatre going on at the IT Awards blog, this time from Nosedive Central's very own Patrick Shearer. (No, the title to this blog post isn't just word salad; it's in reference to the contents of Patrick's very insightful post.)

Patrick talks about, amongst other things, the importance of the horror genre, growing up with nightmares, and being shaken (as I was) when he originally saw The Blair Witch Project (before all the hype). Check it out and discuss on their comments section.

And the quote's from Stephen King's Danse Macabre.

Wanting his 10 points,

James "Petty Pundit" Comtois