September 13, 2002

Today is the day to realize that people are good.

So I had a rather tiresome day yesterday, but then a treasure trove of delights awaited me off the Main Street El. First, the new Starbucks (boo, hiss you may say? Nay, sir) had this great grand opening. I got a free tall coffee, free bag of ground coffee and a free Starbucks card with a still undetermined amount of money on it. Sweet.

But then things got EVEN BETTER. I got mail. Not just mail, but stimulating mail.

First, I got a wonderful cd from Wayne Lewis, the Flakmag 2001 Year in Music Annotated Mix, featuring stuf by some of my favorite artists like Rufus Wainwright and Wilco as well as some new stuff I can't wait to hear. Check it out here. Wayne rawks.

While Wayne stimulates my ears, Ben Brown stimulates my mind. I got a package from him containing two So New Media books, Greaseguns and Feathers by Adam R. Rakunas and Hand Over Fist by Magdalen Powers. But especially exciting was Words Words Words Issue 3, featuring stories by Jami Attenberg, Ben Brown, Dennis DiClaudio, Ildiko Giczi, Shauna McKenna and James Stegall, with a small contribution or two by yours truly. I really think that you should buy this book. It's such a bargain, such a work of art at $7 that you can't afford NOT to get it.

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Today's interview is one with one of my dearest friends, a Miss Tracy Lyons. I challenge you to find a person funnier, more clever, kinder or more creative than her. Those of you in Michigan will soon be blessed with her presence, and those of us in Illinois will be experiencing a great loss indeed.

The Tracy Lyons Interview: Slightly Less Than Twenty Questions

I believe I can safely say that you are the first Zulkey.com interviewee to have ever sported dreadlocks. What are some of the pros and cons of this hairdo?
Ah, dreadlocks… I don't think you can know until you try, just how fun messy hair can be! I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with my dreads because some days they looked totally rad, and some days they looked like a pile of nappy things laying on my head. I think they probably always looked the same; it was just my perception of them that would change. I loved the days of a big ol' pony-tail sticking up off the top of my head, and hated the days that all I wanted was to run a brush over my head.

Tell us about dreadlock maintenance and how you begin them. Are white dreads harder to maintain and grow than black dreads?
Well, seeing as I'm not black and have yet to compile interviews and statistical data, it's hard to answer this question in full. I can tell you that my idea of dreads = no maintenance was sorely mistaken. If only I knew what I was doing my first six months, I might've had some really phatty dreads. Good dreads take not only the replacement of Dr. Bronner's soap for your Panteen Pro-V, but they also can use some regular separating, rolling, clipping of stray hairs, etc. I found all this out a little late, hence the lack of dreads atop my head right now.

You spent many years studying Latin: why? Do you remember any of it?
I know now that the only reason I took Latin was to travel to Rome and meet the love of my life - Flavio [the sexiest tour guide in Rome!] And what do I remember? Only "Semper Ubi Sub Ubi" (meaning, "always wear your underwear).

You are the second Phish devotee to be interviewed on this site. You've spent a good deal of time following the band around, even in Europe. What was the best European show you've seen? Do Europeans seem to dig Phish as much as Americans?
The best European Phish phans I encountered were some rowdy Irishmen who insisted on singing drinking songs throughout a Phish show in Vienna. If that were to happen in the states it would piss me off. But something about a super small venue, most people not sharing your language, and those guys looking really big and strong made me sit back and enjoy it all. Oh, and my favorite show by far was one on Lake Como, in Northern Italy. SO BEAUTIFUL! We had the lake and the mountains in the background and the band was playing for free to anyone and everyone who could fit into this little piazza. Marvelous.

You're extremely involved with theater, and it all began skyrocketing with your turn as Little Orphan Annie. Do you remember anything from that breakthrough performance?
I just had one of those random moments yesterday where I found a box full of Annie memorabilia. It makes me laugh that I am not a very big fan of musicals, and yet that's where it all began for me…

You're also a director as well. Which do you prefer, directing, acting, or another aspect of theater?
I really think it's important for people who work in the theatre to have a bit of everything in their background. It inspires more sympathy for the rest of your artistic team when things get stressful. Lately I'm leaning towards directing, although building has been a lot of fun this summer. I'm always changing my mind in regards to where I feel I do my best in the theatre.

What's one show you'd love to direct? One role you'd like to act?
Direct: Fefu and her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes. I've got to find a huge mansion to stage it in, because the audience travels from room to room to see the different scenes.

Act: oh man, I really want to be Max from Where the Wild Things Are!

What's the worst show you've seen recently?
I saw Galileo at the Goodman and had a better time checking out the props than watching the show...but I do recommend seeing it, if only for the techno-bishop scene. Sounds weird, I know, but if you see it you'll know what I'm talking about.

Why do Sanrio characters (i.e. Hello Kitty) hold so much appeal for people who are obviously too old to like them? I miss my Keroppi wallet.
Thank god it's not just me! Really I have no clue, they must put some pesticides in their products that get in your blood at a young age and keep you coming back for more. That stuff is addicting!

You've been a camp counselor at several locations, from beautiful Highland Park, IL to even more beautiful Keystone, CO. Do you have any horror stories about bad campers?
The only really bad stories are about bullies. So all you bullies out there - quit picking on people - sit by yourself for a few moments and think about what you did - and then come join the group for a song or two.

Ok, time for a controversial question. What are your thoughts on the name "Fighting Illini" (prounounced "ih-lie-nigh," not "ih-lee-knee") and the mascot, Chief Illiniwek at your alma mater, University of Illinois? Would you get rid of them? Do you think they'll ever be gotten rid of? And finally, if you WERE to get rid of the Chief, what should the new school team name be?
You don't want to get me started on this one! I'll tell you this much - I think the team should be changed to the "Fighting Soybeaners." Then we can have someone come out at halftime as a peapod or a block of tofu, and it'd be much more appropriate for the splits in the air that they do at center field.

Your boyfriend is a glassblower. Tell us some things about glassblowing that we haven't seen already on "Sesame Street."
You saw glassblowing on Sesame Street? All I remember, production-wise, is how they make the orange crayons. And I'm also addicted to Sesame Street like I am to Sanrio. Jim Henson Co., if you're out there, please hire me!

You're a vegetarian: are there any less-than-animal-friendly foods that you miss?
Yet another controversial question - I've just started to eat fish again! I know some hard core vegetarians that would get in a fistfight over calling oneself a vegetarian if you eat seafood…

You spent a semester living abroad in England. Would you like to live abroad anyplace else? Where?
At the moment, the answer is Venice (glassblowing capital of the world, conveniently enough). But there are so so many places I'd like to visit, and possibly live - too many to list here.

Nobody really recalls liking high school that much, but you are another interviewee on Zulkey.com who is also a graduate of Evanston Township High School. What are some of your fond memories of that school?
Oddly enough, the first thing that comes to mind is that that kid got stabbed in the head with a machete at school. Who else can say that happened in their high school?

Who's your favorite Beastie Boy?
How can you make me choose?!

You work with Redmoon Theater here in Chicago. Why should more people check it out? And tell us about some of your responsibilities with the theater.
My day would go like this: wake up early, commute one and a half hours, build things, get hurt and bleed a little, build some more, bruise myself, eat lunch, get a splinter, make some things, have them tell me that's not what they wanted, make it over again, hurt myself in a really weird way that no one has done before (really I should win some awards for my injuries) and then go home.

But really folks, the shows aren't just blood and gore, they're frickin' fabulous! Check out their Halloween spectacle at the very least - every year on Oct. 31st.

You've joined the ranks of the theater/restaurant people. What have you learned after your season as a waitress?
I am not, I repeat NOT, supposed to do this for the rest of my life - is what I finally discovered. The restaurant part, that is. A lady made me cry over a meatloaf platter - 'nuff said.

How does it feel to be the 22nd person interviewed for Zulkey.com?
Hungry and late - I was supposed to pick you up ten minutes ago [for a play that we ultimately did not go see]. Sorry Claire!

All is forgiven. Bon voyage, baby!