http://www.muradcafe.com/index.htmHot News!enme@muradcafe.comCopyright 2007 Andrew Murad2007-08-07T00:30:45-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:40:54 -0500me@muradcafe.comPersonal2007-08-07T00:30:45-04:00http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/page6.htm#unique-entry-id-6http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/page6.htm#unique-entry-id-6
Thanks for reading, and hopefully I'll have links to some of these articles and photos soon.]]>me@muradcafe.comPersonal2007-07-17T00:18:38-04:00http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/15-july-2007#unique-entry-id-5http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/15-july-2007#unique-entry-id-5
We all went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on Sunday, July 8. It was a gorgeous night and the girls really loved it. Ruby giggled almost the whole time, and Maggie had some big laughs, too. I don't know what they'll see next, but I hope they will always want to enjoy theatre and all of the arts in some way. Hey, why don't you go see a play? Go...now...really!]]>me@muradcafe.comWork2007-05-26T23:42:07-04:00http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/20-may-2007#unique-entry-id-3http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/20-may-2007#unique-entry-id-3
The set-up: I work for The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, a not-for-profit professional theatre focusing on Shakespeare's canon, as well as other classics. I work in the marketing department as the Marketing Associate/Graphic Designer. I'd never sell myself as a photographer, but I can do it in a pinch. Well, recently I got my chance. For the first time we hosted an event at our facility called "ShakesperienceNJ" (co-sponsord by The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC). Several area high- and junior-schools' theatre programs sent their students to perform different Shakespeare plays, as well as participate in a lecture or two. I was asked to photograph all the performances for the day for archive and press purposes. The day went off pretty well, and the photos turned out quite well, too. Anyway, to make a long story short, three of my photographs were published with a feature story in New Jersey's largest newspaper, The Star-Ledger. I have a scan of the article that I will post up here soon, but I wanted to write about before I forgot. Click here for the image of the article.

I guess they liked it...they've asked me to shoot the production photos for our upcoming outdoor production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I'll let you know how that goes...]]>me@muradcafe.comWork2007-04-04T01:05:50-04:00http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/01-april-2007#unique-entry-id-2http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/01-april-2007#unique-entry-id-2
This past Saturday was our 17th annual fundraising gala event at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This was my first gala with the theatre so I had nothing with which to compare. Everyone has been busy prepping for this thing, and it finally went off on Saturday. One of my jobs was to help my boss coordinate the photographers during the evening (our own as well as any media that might show up). Since there were notable guests coming, as well as some celebrities performing, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. To make a long story short, I guess my whole point that on my insides that night I must say I was a bit star-struck. Like I said, this is my first year with the theatre and in my previous jobs (and locations) I was never really in a position to meet or work with any "celebrities." Some of the people there were Peri Gilpin (Roz on TV's "Frasier"), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Warner on "Law & Order: SUV"), David Conrad (TV's "Ghost Whisperer"), Laila Robins (TV, film, Broadway actress), Robert Cuccioli (Broadway star - "Jeckyll & Hyde"), former NJ governor Tom H. Kean, Sr. (chair of 9-11 Commission, and more. Yes...I'm name-dropping. C'mon, a kid from a small north-Louisiana town isn't used to all this. Give me my moment, ok?

Anyway, after the photo-ops (2 hours of following photographers making sure they weren't intrusive and that they were getting the shots we wanted), I went to work helping with other projects. Later, after some of my work was done, I went down to see the cabaret show put on by some of the afore-mentioned performers. After the event was over, some of us went to a local hotel bar to hang out and have some drinks. Again, it was a bit surreal to be hanging out with some of these actors after the show. Ok, I wasn't chumming with them, but we were sharing the same group space...in itself kind of cool. When I talked to Peri Gilpin I mentioned that I, too, was from Waco and we had a laugh about keeping our Texas twang alive and well (her nanny is from Waco as well...who knew?). After the bar stint (it was 2:00 a.m. and my colleague Duane and I were starving) a few of us heading to a local 24-hour diner to get some food. After we were there for a bit another group from our company comes in and with them is Peri again. We had already ordered and begun eating our food at our table, but when we were done and getting ready to leave we stopped by their table and chatting a bit. It was late and we were tired, so we headed home and left the rest of the crew at the diner.

In closing, while this may sound cheesy...it is. I admit it. What are you gonna do? Maybe it's because I'm so tired that I'm actually writing this crap. Who knows? - am]]>me@muradcafe.comPersonal2007-02-17T15:02:40-05:00http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/11-february-2007#unique-entry-id-0http://www.muradcafe.com/page6/files/11-february-2007#unique-entry-id-0
Nonetheless, we drove into the city (my first time to actually drive in Manhattan...it was crazy) and met up with the band before the show. It was great! We got to hang out with them backstage before they went on and I caught up with Robert and Bill, and I got to meet their bandmates. They really made us feel at home and they were all really cool. I got some pictures from that night. As an added bonus, my old friend since nursery school Jeff Mangum (from The Neutral Milk Hotel) was there, too. It was really great seeing all of them again.

Well, enjoy the photos.]]>