Rolando Teco's Profile

A Writing Competition Perfectly Suited to These Pandemic Times

Anyone who tells you their adjustment to life under soshedist has been smooth sailing, A-OK, is without a doubt one of those annoying frenemies who only present the rosiest picture of themselves to the world in... Continue reading

Posted Jul 13, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Paul Outlaw and James Baldwin and American Dreams

Actor/Writer/Provocateur (and longtime pal o' mine) Paul Outlaw has posted a video of himself reading a few pages from Baldwin's brilliant 1965 presentation "The American Dream and the American Negro." Because the origin of the text... Continue reading

Posted Jun 28, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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I really ought to take my own advice.

This morning I was reminded of the advice I shared with members of the Roland Tec Alumni Action Network just days ago. "Do yourself a favor," I said. "See if you can get in the habit... Continue reading

Posted Jun 18, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Making Art: Half the Battle is Knowing When to Stop

Why is it so difficult for us to stop when we've started a project that's not working? I thought about this this morning as I got up to brush my teeth. That face looking back at... Continue reading

Posted Apr 9, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Thanks, John. I miss you. Hope you're well. Write something. Paste it into an email. Send it to me. Miss you! xoxoxo

Commented Apr 3, 2020 on One Thing Coronavirus Taught Me About Myself at Extra Criticum

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One Thing Coronavirus Taught Me About Myself

For most of my adult life, I've been a composer who was afraid to play the piano in front of anyone. I can trace this mostly to my lack of discipline as a child who confronted with the choice between practicing my Mozart and just making up my own improvised pieces, always ended up choosing the latter. Continue reading

Posted Apr 3, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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All Alone I am Buoyed by You Who Still Dream Big

In the end, it's all driven by a commitment to one thing, to not accept an end or even a pause to the essential conversation that flows between artists with something to say about this world and an audience hungry to hear it. Continue reading

Posted Apr 2, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Social Distancing and the Power of Audience

Covid-19 is emptying venues everywhere. But... Plays are unique. Plays really shouldn't be performed without their audience. Because in the theatre, unlike anywhere else, the audience plays a role. Continue reading

Posted Mar 11, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Introducing a Bit of Wiggle Room into My Productivity System

What a sexy headline! (Not!) Since leaving my full-time staff position at the Guild, I've been engaged in what can best be described as a tug of war between various forces in my life and in... Continue reading

Posted Mar 6, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Dear Writers: Happy Valentine's Day! Love Your Talents!

Posted Feb 14, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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One of My Fondest Performance Memories

Going through my files, I just stumbled upon this pic which brings me back to one of my favorite moments from two summers ago when I was trekking up and down the I-95 and I-87 corridors... Continue reading

Posted Jan 30, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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#Unfriendfacebook

Look what just showed up in my INBox. Wow, Facebook. You really care. That means so much! Umm... No, thanks. I'm good. But thanks for everything, Facebook. ;) Here are just a few of the stories... Continue reading

Posted Jan 30, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Your Best Work Won't Wait

This is the tag line on the home page of my teaching website and underneath my signature on any email I send. But what does it mean? A few things at least. First of all, the... Continue reading

Posted Jan 29, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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This is awesome! I want to use your answer/non answer. It's terrific. I get that question all the time and always stammer out some sort of nonsensical gobbledeegook. The other question I get when I say I'm a filmmaker and/or playwright is: "Oh. Would I know anything you've done?" or "Would I have seen anything of yours?" And I usually answer in such an idiot way with "Oh. I doubt it." WTF, Roland?! Actually a lot of people have seen things I've done but I feel this weird need to quickly (as quickly as possible!) make sure they don't think I'm trying to pass myself off as Stephen Spielberg or Marsha Norman. Oy. it's so idiotic. Part of me thinks the new answer all artists should carry in their back pocket is this: "Google me."

Commented Jan 17, 2020 on Hey there B job people ! (Not that B job) at Extra Criticum

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This Dog Person is Considering Fostering a Cat

The ASPCA hosts orientation sessions for their pet fostering program. I've signed up for one in two weeks. As they explain on their website, in NYC at least, there are many more cats in need of... Continue reading

Posted Jan 17, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Last Night at the Moth

Last night at a Moth Story Slam in SoHo, I put my name in the hat and waited. And my name was called. And I told my 5 minute story. And no one died. (at the... Continue reading

Posted Jan 15, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Cosy Sheridan Asks: "Do You Love the Life You've Made?"

Another Tuesday morning bit of inspiration. This time, courtesy of my talented pal, Cosy Sheridan. Complete lyric below: Smash the dishes in the kitchen The alter in the cage Why not have a life that gets... Continue reading

Posted Jan 14, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Hey there B job people ! (Not that B job)

So here I sit for over 15 years at my "B" (day actually, get your mind out of the gutter) job, still doing my craft, art, creative stuff, writing, making people laugh, what have you, thinking... Continue reading

Posted Jan 14, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Was just thinking I miss hearing her. Time to go back to Pangea?

Commented Jan 7, 2020 on Seduce. Destroy. Heal. The Magic of Carol Lipnik at Extra Criticum

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Don't ever give up, Yvonne! Without your voice the world would be a lot duller... and cleaner! ;) xoxoxo

Commented Jan 7, 2020 on Tuesday Morning Inspiration Courtesy of Patty Griffin at Extra Criticum

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Tuesday Morning Inspiration Courtesy of Patty Griffin

For those of us who keep on hiking up the road, making more stuff to share with the world, even when sometimes it feels like no one's listening, don't give up. Don't ever give up. Thank... Continue reading

Posted Jan 7, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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Coolio. I will check it out soon. And I'm picturing you playing guitar facing the window and it's making me smile! :) Please post to EC again soon. I miss your posts! :)

Commented Jan 7, 2020 on My Tug of War: Consistency vs. Change at Extra Criticum

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My Tug of War: Consistency vs. Change

After a couple weeks of twice daily meditation I had an epiphany. What if I turned the piano around so that as I played I was facing the room and the big window on the other side. Continue reading

Posted Jan 6, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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This is what practice looks like.

Couple years back while I was teaching in Roanoke, I grabbed a few seconds of footage of this line of folks casting fishing lines on a grass lawn. At first blush I just thought it was... Continue reading

Posted Jan 2, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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My Dad Looms Large

Recently, a friend who hadn't ever seen my kitchen, looked up at the wall and asked, "Who's that gorgeous man?" "Oh. That's my Dad!" "Your Dad? Isn't it intimidating having him watching you as you cook?"... Continue reading

Posted Jan 2, 2020 at Extra Criticum

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