Norman P. Dixon & It's in the Cards

REVIEWS!!!

2010-08-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since I last posted, including reviews from LA Weekly, Back Stage (CRITIC'S PICK!), and the LA Times!!! Here are snippets from all the reviews, as well as links to the entire review:

"Under the expert direction of Debra De Liso, Dixon takes his audience on an endearing trip..." "CRITIC'S PICK!" - Back Stage
http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-la-theatre/becoming-norman-1004109120.story

"Dixon is a handsome blond with a theatrical voice, and he powers through his life story."
- LA Weekly
http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/stage-news/stage-raw-a-wolf-inside-the-fe/

"Dixon is an appealing presence, with a sweet-toned voice and palpable sensitivity. His songs, well accompanied by Steven Applegate, tend to the inspirational..." - Los Angeles Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/08/theater-review-becoming-norman-at-noho-arts-center.html

"This is a wonderfully warm, humorous and enriching evening of theatre for gays, straights and beautifully geared to young teenagers..." - Broadway World
http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/Norman_P_Dixon_Is_Becoming_Norman_NoHo_Arts_20100810

"Dixon's bravery in exposing his vulnerability and insecurities renders the production universally accessible and relatable." - Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-katz/becoming-norman-a-powerfu_b_666788.html

"He tells it with a winsome charm and a powerful singing voice ---and a lithe body that he uses with graceful effectiveness." - Cynthia Citron
http://www.cynthiacitron.com/

Review of "Becoming Norman" by Cynthia Citron

2010-08-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a snippet from Cynthia Citron's review of Becoming Norman. The full review can be found at the link below.

"Dixon’s story is one we’ve heard before, but that doesn’t make it any less poignant and bittersweet. He tells it with a winsome charm and a powerful singing voice---and a lithe body that he uses with graceful effectiveness."

http://www.cynthiacitron.com

Review of "Becoming Norman" by Don Grigware

2010-08-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

http://grigware.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-becoming-norman.html

BECOMING NORMAN Production Photos by Michael Lamont

2010-08-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Tickets for the show are available at www.BecomingNorman.com.

Huffington Post blog article about "Becoming Norman"

2010-08-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Paul Katz interviewed me about Becoming Norman for a piece on the Huffington Post blog. His article is really great!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-katz/becoming-norman-a-powerfu_b_666788.html

LA STAGE blog article about "Becoming Norman"

2010-08-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Great article about Becoming Norman on the LA STAGE blog!

http://www.lastageblog.com/2010/08/07/becoming-norman-puts-dixon%e2%80%99s-whole-life-out-there/

"Becoming Norman" on BroadwayWorld.com!

2010-07-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Becoming Norman had its first listing in the press today on BroadwayWorld.com! Here's the link:

http://tinyurl.com/29go384

Also, tickets are now on sale for every show and are available at the Becoming Norman website:

http://www.becomingnorman.com/

New "Becoming Norman" Artwork

2010-07-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

The new artwork for the Becoming Norman postcard was sent to the printer today! I think designer Eric Pargac did an amazing job, and I am extremely pleased with how it turned out!!! I can't wait to get them back from the printer so I can start distributing them!

I'm also really looking forward to seeing what the poster art will look like now!

BECOMING NORMAN website is LIVE!

2010-07-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that the website for Becoming Norman is now live!!! It's still under construction and there will be more to come in the weeks ahead, but now there is something for people to see and there's a link to buy tickets to the show! http://becomingnorman.com/

Thank you so much to Eric Pargac! He did such a fantastic job with the things we discussed at the production meeting on Monday, and I am so pleased with his design! He really captured the sense and feel of the cards I make and sell through my business It's in the Cards, right down to the little brads that attach the banner greetings to the front of the cards. I can't wait to see what he does for the rest of the artwork for the show!!!

First Production Meeting

2010-07-05T14:34:00.001-07:00

The creative team involved with Becoming Norman met this morning in my apartment. (Otto, one of my cats, took a particular liking to A.J. Nowak, our Sound Designer and Production Stage Manager!)

We had a great meeting and got the schedule mapped out for the next few weeks leading up to the first performance on August 6th. There were so many creative ideas flowing in the room, and it was incredibly exciting for me to listen to everyone talk about their vision for what we are creating together. I feel so lucky (blessed?) to have such an amazingly talented group of folks supporting me on this show.

Here's the whole crew:

Norman P. Dixon, Writer/Performer/Producer

C. Raul Espinoza, Producer

Debra De Liso, Director

Steven Applegate, Pianist

Coby Chasman-Beck, Lighting Design

Lacey Anzelc, Set Design

A.J. Nowak, Sound Design/Production Stage Manager

Eric Pargac, Graphic Design

Ken Werther, Publicity

And so it begins again...

2010-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but there are only 2 more months until Becoming Norman begins it's 6-week run at the NoHo Arts center! It will run from August 6th through September 12th, 2010. The shows will be Friday & Saturday nights @ 8 pm, and Sundays @ 3pm.

Yesterday was the first unofficial meeting I had with Raul about the budget and what we need to do in preparation for the run. He has contacted all of the people involved in the show back in February to see who is able and willing to come back for the full run. We're hoping they'll all want to come back! (And I'm hoping we can afford them all, too!)

I started feeling a little anxious thinking about all the things that have to be done in the next 8 weeks and how much money we have to come up with, but I'm deciding to focus on the excitement of doing the show again, and just know that everything will fall into place and I'll have what I need. I'm really excited about doing the show again! I didn't realize how much I would miss it.

"Becoming Norman" runs from 2/25 - 2/28

2010-01-22T14:31:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that my new one-person play Becoming Norman will be playing at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood this February 25 - 28!

"Both funny and poignant, Becoming Norman is a one-person show with music about a gay man who grew up in a conservative Mormon home in Utah and always wanted to be a performer. We follow his struggle to accept himself even as he yearns for the love and approval of those around him. Looking back on his life and the stories that made him who he is, he finds the courage to stop hiding behind his fears and to finally let his voice be heard."

Tickets are available at Tix.com:
http://becomingnorman.tix.com

I'm very proud of this piece and hope you'll be able to come!

Custom Scrapbooker-for-Hire!

2009-10-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

I've begun to offer my services as a custom "scrapbooker-for-hire!" These are a few photos of a couple of the albums I've been commissioned to create. If you'd like to hire me, send me an email! :-)

Photos of My Layout in "Re-Bound"

2009-06-29T22:39:00.001-07:00

2009-06-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

I got an unexpected surprise this week when I received a copy of my friend Jeannine Stein's new book Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials. I have a project that is featured in the gallery section of the book -- page 112-113! It's the first time my work has been published in a book!

My contribution is a book I made as a keepsake of my 40th birthday. I used an old ledger as the front and back covers of my book, and vintage fabric for the binding. I used the birthday cards I received at my party as the pages inside the book. I thought it would be a fun way to keep the birthday cards and commemorate the occasion.

I was thrilled and honored to be a part of Jeannine's book. She is truly one of the most gifted artists I've ever known. I met her in the very first art class I took in California, and we became instant friends. She's been a huge inspiration to me ever since. I look forward to seeing what she does next!

The Second Act

2009-06-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

It's been over 2 years since I posted anything to this blog. I considered deleting it entirely, since it's already gone to seed, but somehow that just didn't seem right. I've been thinking a lot about where I am in life, what I want, and where I want to be. I've recently reconnected with some long buried dreams which are taking me in a different artistic direction from where I've been going with my greeting card business. My focus has shifted to singing and performing, and I'm working on a one-person show.

As I was thinking about what my new focus might mean to my card business, it occured to me that this blog could be a space where I bring all aspects of my creative life together in one place for exploration. Whether it's posting about my handmade creations sold under the banner of my card business, or writing about the workshops I'm taking or the shows I'm performing in. It's all part of my artistic expression, all aspects of who I am.

I can't seem to articulate the thoughts that are running through my head at the moment, but I feel like I'm on the brink of some significant shifts and positive changes. As I embark on the second act of my life, I want to nurture the seeds that I planted in the first act, help them to grow, bloom and thrive. Maybe this space can somehow play a role in that. I guess time will tell.

Tagged by the fabulous Suzi Finer!

2007-04-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Nothing like having the dazzling light of Suzi Finer shine on me to get me off my but and actually add something to my blog! Being tagged means posting 5 blogs that inspire me on a daily basis (preferably blogs that haven't already been tagged by others.)

I must confess that the only blog that I read every day is Suzi's! However, there are other blogs which I do read on a regular basis, and here are 5 that I love:

Blissful Elements: I recently discovered this blog via a comment posted on my own. I just love all of the great vintage visual elements and the artistic and creative layouts.

Julia Sweeney: I love Julia Sweeney! I saw her show "Letting Go of God" last year, and was completely blown away. She's so smart, funny, and incredibly insightful. She always makes me think and analyze my beliefs and ways of looking at the world.

Curbed L.A.: This blog is all about Los Angeles and it's neighborhoods. I love reading about the various developments that are going on all around the city, and fantasizing about houses and lofts that I'll never be able to afford. Sigh.

Anna Corba: OK, this is a website, not a blog. But Anna Corba is an artist who I find endlessly inspiring! Her book "Vintage Paper Crafts" is my all-time favorite art book ever!

Suzi Finer: I know, I know, it's cheating to list Suzi (since she's the one who tagged me!), but hers is truly the only blog I read every single day! I love her creativity, and how she sees beauty in everyday things. I love that she takes her camera with her everwhere and documents her life, and then posts it on her blog for all the world to see. She inspires me every single day.

It's in the Cards

2007-01-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

Welcome to It's in the Cards!