Anything but Rotten

Broadway in Austin’s showstopping season closes with Something Rotten!

Cast of the Something Rotten! National Tour

Something Rotten! runs May 30 through June 4.

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

If your cheeks are sore when you exit Bass Concert Hall between May 30 and June 4, Blake Hammond and his Something Rotten! castmates have done their job.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world that’s kind of depressing,” says Hammond. “It’s nice to take a little time for yourself and find things that make you laugh, because laughter really is the best medicine.”

Hammond, a Fort Worth native and University of Texas theater graduate, plays soothsayer Nostradamus in the comical production. Set in 1595, it tells the story of two brothers wanting to create a hit play to rival Shakespeare’s success. Nostradamus turns Nick and Nigel Bottom on to the idea of creating the world’s very first musical.

Hammond describes the show as a love letter to Broadway musicals and Shakespeare, with a modern spin. “If you love theater you will love this. It’s so much fun,” he says.

His big moment comes in the first act when he commands an eight-and-a-half-minute number with references to and snippets from some of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. “It’s probably my favorite number I’ve done in my career and really, truly brings the house down. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to step out there and make that happen.”

Hammond will spend four weeks with the tour in Texas, including the one week in Austin, one week in Houston, and two weeks in Dallas. He says he’s looking forward to visiting with family and having them in the audience. “Coming to Texas is really sweet for me. I played Austin on my first tour, which was in the late '80s with Jesus Christ Superstar, but I haven’t been back to Austin since with a tour.”

Hammond says Something Rotten!’s clever one-liners, non sequiturs, and talented cast make it a hilarious must-see show.

“When people walk out of the theater they tell us over and over that their cheeks hurt from laughing. It’s great to hear that they’ve been smiling so much for two-and-a-half hours. I love it.”

---

Something Rotten! plays Bass Concert Hall through June 4.

theater

Outside the Lines

Buda artist releases intuitive drawing book with fun prompts

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Artist Ronald Gross creates an intuitive drawing with crayon, which he considers a "joyful" medium.

Buda-based artist and writer Ronald Gross released a book in November called Unlock Your Creativity: A Guide to Intuitive Drawing, which will walk aspiring expressers through drawing without worry. On December 6, he'll be on hand to help in an intuitive drawing demo at Buda Public Library's Holiday Open House.

The book is a hands-on guide that teaches readers how to lean into their own desires and intuitions when drawing, whether they feel like an artist or not. In this way, intuitive drawing should feel relaxing, meditative, and ultimately, beneficial for mental health. If you find coloring books relaxing and meditative, intuitive drawing may have the same effect on you.

"Intuitive drawing is the practice of creating art without a specific plan or outcome in mind," says Gross. "It’s about letting your hand move freely, guided by emotion, curiosity, or subconscious impulses; not about making something perfect."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Intuitive drawing is simple, joyful, and according to Gross can calm the mind much like meditation. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

This book presents exercises to access a mindful state: freeform doodling, blind contouring drawing, drawing from the imagination, and drawing from emotions. For artists feeling stuck, Gross also includes plenty of exercises for overcoming creative blocks and even discusses ways intuitive drawing can be applied to other creative projects and areas of life.

In the December workshop, Gross will give a quick demonstration on how to create an intuitive drawing using nothing but lines, shapes, and simple marks. Then participants can try it out with a variety of crayons, because crayons are "tactile" and can quickly transport people into a "playful, unselfconscious space," according to Gross.

"The workshop is all about creating a supportive, judgment-free space to explore intuitive drawing," he says. "Attendees will leave with tools to keep practicing on their own and, hopefully, a renewed sense of creativity and playfulness."

An intuitive drawing from author and artist Ronald Gross. In college Gross was taught how to take a doodle and elevate it into fine art.Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross's own journey into intuitive drawing started at a young age, when he would doodle and sketch throughout the school day. Years later at the Academy of Art University, a professor encouraged him to lean into this more intuitive and abstract style of art. Since then, Gross has been exploring intuitive drawing's ability to access a meditative state, as well as tap into the subconscious mind.

"When you draw intuitively, you’re fully present in the moment," Gross says. "Your mind quiets, and you become attuned to the flow of your thoughts, feelings, and physical movements. It’s akin to meditation, only instead of sitting still, you’re actively channeling your inner experience onto the page."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Gross's intuitive drawings each evoke a different feeling through his simple use of color and linework. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross adds that over time, doing some of the exercises included in the book may even help boost confidence, since intuitive drawing can help people learn to trust their instincts.

"Intuitive drawing can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help people reconnect with their inner selves," he adds. "It offers a space to process emotions, spark ideas, and break free from perfectionism or overthinking."

visual art drawing books