Gearing up to open the play American Falls—one of NEXT’s top 10 events for May—while putting the finishing touches on his production company’s brand new home in Braddock (read more about that here) and planning a Kickstarter campaign, actor, director and Pittsburgh native Patrick Jordan takes time to share his exciting plans for the week.
Sunday, May 3
I’ll wake up early to walk my dog Cosmo and cheer on the marathon runners. I live right on the route and usually wake up that day to the sound of a band made up of high school kids playing the Rocky theme song “Gonna Fly Now” on repeat for five hours with some cowbell thrown in. If you know me then you would know that this is the best thing ever. I’ll pop by to visit my grandmother, Edith Monsour, and then head to rehearsal in Braddock for American Falls. After rehearsal I’ll head to my mom’s for her sauce and meatballs—which are the best on the planet. Then home to watch Game of Thrones.
Monday, May 4
Wake up at 7 a.m. to walk Cosmo and then send off some press releases, answer emails, etc. Later that morning, I’ll head to Braddock to meet with the team from Clear Story to check on the theater build for our show at barebones‘ new black box theater. Because Monday is the actors’ day off from rehearsal, I will try to get in as much as I can. So I’ll meet up with one of the actors in the show, Leandro Cano (in from LA), and head to the South Side in search of set pieces. After that I’ll meet with my sister, Kate Evans, and my fantastic nieces and nephew Jordan, Mack and Georgia for lunch.
The second half of the afternoon/early evening, I’ll meet with Ben Hernstrom from Ambulantic Videoworks to film a Kickstarter video for the campaign we are launching for the theater. If there is time I’ll put up some posters for the show. Then I am going to Root 174‘s Star Wars-themed multi-course “May the Fourth be with you” dinner with my lovely wife Eileen. I have been looking forward to this dinner for months because it sold out last year.
Tuesday, May 5
Another 7 a.m. wake up with Cosmo, then a 9 a.m. production meeting with the American Falls team—lighting designer Andy Ostrowski, costumer Ang Vesco, sound designer Dave Bjornson, production manager Brittney Spinelli and technical director Charles McDermott. After this I will run downtown to an audition for a TV series at Donna Belajac Casting and pop in to say hi to my agents Deb and Jared at the Docherty Agency. Then I will head back to Braddock for a noon rehearsal for American Falls in UnSmoke Systems Artspace located across the courtyard from barebones’ new theater space. Fortunately for us, legendary actor Bingo O’Malley will be sitting in to help me with direction for the show. At 4 p.m. I’ll run across town and meet Eileen to head to my third ever hot yoga class taught by my sister-in-law, Rachel French.
Wednesday, May 6
Stop by Costco for supplies and grab a slice of pizza with John Fetterman then head to rehearsal with the cast for the first time in the actual new theater space! After rehearsal head over to The Brew Gentlemen Beer Company to check out the taco truck and see a live podcast recording from the show “Drinking Partners” which will feature Braddock Mayor John Fetterman as a guest. After this, I’ll run to meet my dad (George Jordan) and stepmother (Marci) at Grant’s Bar for some fried shrimp and coconut cream pie.
Thursday, May 7
More rehearsal and show logistics throughout the day, and then a meeting with longtime friend and collaborator, Melissa Martin, to put the final touches on our long overdue web series, The Honorable. Then I’ll meet my friend Duane Rieder at Engine House 25 Wines/The Clemente Museum to help crush grapes and make wine. After some manual labor and wine tasting in their new wine bar, Arriba, I’ll meet Eileen and maybe my get my friend Jeffrey Smith to meet us for a late dinner at Dinette or e2.
Friday, May 8
Meeting with Superior Motors chef Kevin Sousa to go over menu items he will be preparing to go with our Friday and Saturday night performances. In the evening I’ll pop by the Bayardstown opening in the Strip District. Possibly I can make it an early night—unless Dave Mansueto drags me to Gooski’s.
Saturday, May 9
Meeting my friend Gisele Fetterman at noon to help with the Tireless Project at “Braddock Beach” on the Braddock public ramp to volunteer and help clean the riverfront in that area.
Later that night I’ll probably check out Tako then head over to Andy’s Wine Bar at The Fairmont for my friend Keri’s birthday. After seeing how many nights I am going out this week I have to say that normally Eileen cooks and we spend most nights at home, but her schedule is currently pretty hectic with her company Revive Marketing Group, and when barebones is in production, we are both pretty much on the run.