Bar & Grill: A Justice Carol (on stage 12/6-12/7)

Bar & Grill 21: A Justice Carol

 (From Do512.com) While Charles Dickens may have envisioned Scrooge as a businessman, on December 6th & 7th we will find out what he would have been like as a lawyer... or better yet, a federal judge. Austin is a legal wonderland, and hilarity is certain to ensue when Ebenezer’s past, present and future are revealed onstage at Stateside at the Paramount.  This hilarious, Holiday inspired show incorporates classic tales like “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Elf” and more.

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Proceeds from the show benefit the Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation.

Bar & Grill 2014

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Law of Ages: Bar & Grill 20

Tickets are selling out quickly for Law of Ages: Bar & Grill 20.  If you haven't purchased your ticket, now would be a good time to do so.  Seating is assigned, so the fast you purchase your tickets the better your seats will be.

Bar & Grill is an annual fundraiser for the Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation.   The AYLA Foundation supports a variety of charitable projects, including (but not limited to) Holiday Baskets, Christmas for Kids, They Had a Dream Too, The Women's Resource Fair,  and mentoring programs.  Furthermore, this year a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, an organization which provides pro bono legal services to artists in central Texas.  

Bar & Grill: Law of Ages

Bar & Grill's 20th Anniversary Show: Law of Ages

If there are two things everyone knows, it's that lawyer themed musical comedies are hilarious and that 80's music is awesome.  Now, for one night only, you can experience both on the same stage with Bar & Grill's 20th Anniversary Show: Law of Ages.  

In addition to being your best source in Austin for lawyer themed musical comedy, Bar & Grill is an annual fundraiser for the Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation.   The AYLA Foundation supports a variety of charitable projects, including (but not limited to) Holiday Baskets, Christmas for Kids, They Had a Dream Too, The Women's Resource Fair,  and mentoring programs.  Furthermore, this year a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, an organization which provides pro bono legal services to artists in central Texas.  

Buy your tickets today.  

Bar & Grill: Double Feature

Scene From Dress Rehearsal of Act II, Bar & Grill: Double Feature

(Photo by Dave Floyd)


Thanks to our sponsors and our audience for supporting the Austin Young Lawyers' Association production of Bar & Grill: Double Feature.  It's done and it was fun.  I especially enjoyed performing in The State Theatre.  In previous shows, I have been in The Paramount Theatre and in The Long Center's Rollins Theatre.  Thus far, The State Theatre has been my favorite venue in which to appear (good size for the production along with the historic aspect and location).

This year, I appeared as three different characters: (1) Don Draper, (2) Sonny Crockett, and (3) Ron Paul.  This is a departure from last year, when I was a parody of Finn from Glee throughout the entire show (our parody version was called "Plea" and ironically I can't stand the actual TV show Glee).   The year before I essentially played myself (if I were a partner at a large Austin firm and not the CEO of Prism Risk Management).

I was able to get in a fair amount of  photography during act II of the show.  I'll be posting photos as soon as I get a few selected and edited.   I attempted to shoot some behind the scenes video, but my camera set-up was not conducive to the low light backstage.  My friend and fellow cast member David Wells, however, got a lot of footage on one of his video cameras.

I had a great time doing the show.  I'm already making plans for writing for next year's production.

Bar & Grill is a fundraiser for the AYLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Austin Young Lawyer's Association.

Food: Pork Chops in Austin

Pork Chop Plate @ Texas Chili Parlor

Reading this blog, you may think that bacon is the only pork product that I love.  This belief could not be farther from the truth.  I love ham, Canadian bacon, pork ribs,  and pork chops as well.  Last week, I made the excellent decision of meeting a friend at Perry's Steakhouse in order to enjoy the Pork Chop Friday lunch special for which the restaurant is known amongst circles of pork fans.  For about $12, you get a massive pork chop cut into three distinct parts: the "eyelash," several ribs, and the loin.  The eyelash is the most tender and flavorful cut, the ribs are a close second, and the loin is less tender and fat infused but is still succulent (add applesauce, of course, for extra flavor).   The lunch sized serving is huge, and I've heard that the dinner portion is even larger.  I don't know yet... I'm a little intimidated by any serving of pork which is larger than the pork chop lunch special.  I can only imagine that if I consumed the entire alleged pork chop dinner, then I'd need to stumble over to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel to sleep off the inevitable meat coma.  Not that this sounds like a bad way to spend an evening; I just haven't yet risen to the challenge 

Pork is on my mind because last night I enjoyed The Texas Chili Parlor's delicious pork chop dinner.  Famished after tech rehearsal for Bar & Grill: Double Feature, I stopped by the TCP before heading to Dogwood to meet the gf.  The TCP serves a sweet, tender, and juice grilled pork chop for about $9.  You get two thin cuts of pork (this lets the flavor get seared in nicely) which are tasty enough to not need any sauce.  The plate comes with rice and beans, but I decided to swap the fancy sides for a more appropriate serving of potato chips.  It turns out that Ruffles and pork chops complement each other quite well.  Potato chips benefit by soaking up some pork juices, and the salt from the chips adds a little zest to the meat.  Plus, the disturbed looks from witnesses to this meal only enhance the experience.  Most people don't expect to see this sort of combination outside of a truck stop in the Deep South.

Now that I'm on a roll with pork, the pork chop special at Shoal Creek Saloon is next on the list.

Events: YMBL Fall Fling and Bar & Grill

Official Bar & Grill: Double Feature Poster

Looking for a good time in Austin?

Tonight, while I'm at dress rehearsal for Bar & Grill: Double Feature, the Austin Young Men's Business League is having its annual Fall Fling.  But for the rehearsal conflict, I would be there.  I have been to multiple Fall Flings and all were a lot of fun.  Spring Fling, held this year at Laguna Gloria, was awesome as well.

Fall Fling is tonight at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden.  Tickets are $30, with proceeds going to benefit the Austin Sunshine Camps.

Tomorrow and/or Saturday night, there is no better way to spend the evening than at Bar & Grill: Double Feature, Austin's finest value in lawyer themed musical comedy.  The show is at 8p both nights, at the historic State Theatre downtown (located conviently near the Roaring Fork and the hotel bar at the Stephen F. Austin).  Tickets for Bar & Grill: Double Feature are available online.

Bar & Grill, in addition to being highly entertaining, is a fundraiser for the Austin Young Lawyers' Foundation, the charitable arm of the Austin Young Lawyers' Association.  I am on the board of directors of AYLA, and I have acted in, written for, and been a story contributor for Bar & Grill in 2009, 2010, 2011.  My first appearance in Bar & Grill was in 2006.

Bar & Grill: Double Feature Video

Bar & Grill: Double Feature, presented by AYLA and benefiting the AYLA Foundation, just a few weeks away.   Purchase tickets online for one or both nights of lawyer themed hilarity, on the docket for the evenings of November 11th and 12th at Austin's historic State Theater.

If you still aren't convinced, then be sure to watch the official Bar & Grill: Double Feature promotional video.

Bar & Grill: Double Feature

 Rehearsals are underway for the annual Bar & Grill show presented by the Austin Young Lawyers Association and benefiting the AYLA Foundation.   Bar & Grill is consistently Austin's best value in lawyer themed musical comedies.   Unlike the previous two years, Bar & Grill will be divided into a double feature (hence the title).  The first act is sketch comedy combined with musical numbers, while the second act is a parody of Little Shop of Horrors. 

Here's a description of Bar & Grill: Double Feature from the State Theatre's website: 

DOUBLE FEATURE, the 19th Annual Bar & Grill Show, November 11th and 12th, The State Theatre. Each year, attorneys from all over Austin gather to poke fun at the legal profession through a night of musical theater parody. This year, Bar & Grill celebrates its 19th year by holding a 1950’s style “Double Feature.” And what better place to do so than the historic State Theatre? In the first show, a mysterious meteor shower leaves behind an unusual, magical book that teaches lawyers “How to Succeed at Law Without Really Crying.” After intermission, you’ll find yourself smack dab in the middle of a “Legal Shop of Horrors.” Get your tickets now for what promises to be another exciting, hilarious production. All proceeds benefit the Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation, a nonprofit furthering professional, charitable and educational purposes since 1958.

 Bar & Grill: Double Feature will be playing at Austin's historic State Theatre on the nights of November 11th and 12th.  Tickets for Bar & Grill: Double Feature are available now online.

Bar & Grill: It's Almost Here

Looking for the best lawyer themed musical comedy show in Austin?  Of course you are, so mark down November 11th and 12th as the performance nights of the 19th annual Bar & Grill (presented by the Austin Young Lawyers’ Association).    This year’s theme is a sci-fi double feature; Part I is “How to Succeed in Law Without Too Much Crying” and Act II is “Legal Shop of Horrors.”  Bar & Grill will be one of the first shows to be performed at Austin’s historic State Theatre since it reopened follow repairs from extensive flood damage.

Tickets are available online, and please email wdfloyd@prismrm.com if you’d like to talk about sponsorship opportunities.

Bar & Grill, in addition to being highly entertaining, is a fundraiser for the AYLA Foundation.  I have acted in Bar & Grill in 2006, 2009, and 2010 as well as contributed to the writing of the current, 2010, and 2009 shows.  It's a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year.

Movin' On Up: Foskitt Law Office

As of Monday, the gf has moved the headquarters of her firm to a swank new location downtown. The Foskitt Law Office is now located at 702 San Antonio St. I'm loving the new office, which is housed in the historic William Franklin North Apartment building in Austin's historic Bremond Block. As an added bonus, she's now a neighbor of my friends at Avalanche Consulting and Pulse Global Public Relations.

The Foskitt Law Office is available to handle general litigation as well as real estate matters. For a period of three years, Sara worked as a staff attorney for a Travis County District Judge, thus she is familiar with the workings of the local courts (such as the central docketing system, which was addressed in this year's Bar & Grill by the song "Docket Man").

Sara has recently become a Realtor, and is launching Foskitt Realty.

In addition to being excited for Sara about the swell new office, I'm excited for me about having a great launching point for evenings downtown. :)

Bar & Grill: Plea

[photo (by WDFloyd): The Long Center, before a storm]


It's done! Thanks to everyone who came out to see the show. There are many ways to fill a Friday and/or Saturday evening, and I'm very pleased you all choose law themed musical comedy.

I had a great time working with the show from start to finish. Our group has very talented actors, singers, writers, and dancers; I'm glad they actually let me on stage with them. And of course, the band was great as always.

This was my second year to do Bar & Grill in the Rollins Theater at The Long Center. Once again, The Rollins Theater was a great place to perform. I've seen some really great shows at the Rollins, and it's fun to be able to work in the space where many talented performers have come before. Moreover, as one of the Membership Chairs for Catalyst 8, it's great to now have experienced the excitement of performing on the same stage which the members of our organization work to make accessible to qualifying performing artists in Austin.

Bar & Grill: Plea

I'm very excited about tonight. After weeks of rehearsal, we're set to do the first run of Plea in front of a full house at the Long Center's Rollins Theater. Last year was fun, but this year's show is even better.

My character is based on "Finn" from Glee; I describe him as "aggressively wholesome" and "lovably clueless." As a bonus, tonight I'll be dancing the Time Warp as well as breaking out some moves to 70's funk.

Tickets may still be available: click here for the link to the Long Center's ticketing site

Also, I'd like to thank my pals at Catalyst 8 for providing snacks for last night's dress rehearsal. The mixture of Chik-Fil-A nuggets and tasty Central Market cheese was quite tasty. And, or course, the generous spread made the long evening of rehearsal much more pleasant. Everyone in the show is a full time attorney by day, so the energy boost was quite helpful before the full evening of rehearsal. Catalyst 8, your generosity toward the Bar & Grill cast was greatly appreciated!

Catalyst 8 has a special connection to the Long Center's Rollins Theater, as this is where all of the recipients of the Catalyst 8 Boost Rental Subsidy perform. Having been on the Catalyst 8 Leadership Council since 2008, I am especially honored to have a second opportunity to perform in the theater space we know and love. Now that I've used the facilities twice, I am especially passionate about helping Austin's up and coming performing artists have access to such a fantastic theater space.

Bar & Grill: Plea

Looking for a good time on November 5th and/or 6th? Of course you are, and thus you should look no farther than the Long Center in order to find entertainment for one or both of said evenings. Why? Because on both of these evenings AYLA's Bar & Grill will be delivering another round of high quality lawyer written/directed/performed musical comedy in the form of Plea.

I was in last year's show, Adventures in Downsizing, and I had a great time. I stretched my acting skills to the limit as I played Floyd, a lawyer who preferred Vegas, gambling, and related shenanigans to the actual practice of law. This year, my character is entirely different. I'm not going to give away much in the way of detail, other than to note that this year I've been coerced into performing in several dance routines (which is ironic, considering I possess little to no actual dancing talent); however, it's all in good fun and it should be highly amusing for the audience. Moreover, just about everyone in the show who's not me is actually quite talented at singing and dancing.

Proceeds from Bar & Grill go to support the Austin Bar Foundation, thus you will achieve the double whammy of both helping people and being entertained if you decide to come to the show this year.

Click here to buy your ticket.