musing on
the muse

[number one 11.28.07]

Note: I'm sending this first issue of musings on the muse, my new monthly newsletter about creativity,  to just about anyone whose address I have. Of course, you are free to unsubscribe or, on the other hand, to forward this to anyone you think might be interested. If this was forwarded to you, you'll need to subscribe  to receive future issues.

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photo credits: from l. pat stroud; corey fischer (strawberry anemone, carmel); ken friedman (from Windows and Mirrors and Death of a Salesman)

Welcome to Musing on the Muse 
 

Since all who receive this may not know me, let me introduce myself.  I'm Corey, as you can see on the masthead over on the left. For about 40 years I've made theatre in various ways and taught others how to do the same; I've acted in films and television, written stories, films, essays, plays, edited books, made ceramic sculptures, taken pictures underwater played blues guitar (most memorably, on the streets of Paris in the sixties)  and made kites.  Nearly 30 years ago, I co-founded Traveling Jewish Theatre, with whom I still act, write and direct. The current that connects all these activities is the flow of creativity, which can be as mysterious as life itself and as simple as breathing.   Now, I'm trying another form in which to both manifest and reflect upon this energy we call creativity. It's the aspect of life that I vowed  to serve when I was nineteen or so and was on my own for the first time in my life, hitchhiking through Europe and North Africa.¹

Musing is also part of a transition I'm in.
After a hiatus of a couple of years, I recently started teaching again – a workshop in creating solo performance. The delight and satisfaction that the participants expressed and my own joy in watching their creations unfold was all I needed to realize that it was  time to do a lot more teaching, guiding, coaching, sharing what I've been so generously given by a host of remarkable teachers (including my own experience, especially the "failures"), sharing it with people who are hungry to taste the fruits of their own creativity. 

In future issues, I'll include aural and visual moments; accounts of current engagements with materials, ideas, collaborators; and words that have helped, comforted, inspired and/or disturbed me over the years. 

If this issue was forwarded to you, you'll need to subscribe  to receive future issues.

This month's offering is from Grace Paley, who died in August. Her unforgettable short stories, poems and essays will go on giving warmth, comfort, tears of laughter and groans of delight as long as we have eyes to read and hearts to understand.  According to a former student of hers, she once said:

"Write what you don't know
about what you know!"

what people say about corey's creative guidance:

david roche, an exceptional performer and author says:

"working with corey was one of the best creative experiences of my life. absolutely."

from students and clients:

"when I became overwhelmed with self-criticism, he worked with me in a way that was both loving and effective."

“I wanted to be surprised – to be changed – and that’s what I received.”

“The work was shamanic.”

“he models how to relate to the creative force.”

“nurturing and  rigorous.”

“he unlocked confidence I didn't know I had."

¹ I've been working on a spoken-word piece about those days. it's a very new form for me. you can listen to a recording-in-progress  if you click here.  Look for the "Play" button on the upper right corner of the page

click here if you'd like to find out more about how corey works with people

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