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"All the World's a Stage" community television

The S.T.A.G.E. - Sunset Theatre Arts Group of Entertainers

dp News

published by durand productions

Items are listed in reverse chronological order

September 1, 2008

Just got back online after a year and a half - moved back to San Francisco.

Web updates to come soon...

__________________________________________________________________

April, 2007

Destination Pasadena Hosts the Los Angeles Concierge Association

Michael Durand (left) shares his knowledge of Pasadena with 35 members

of the Los Angeles Concierge Association as part of a special VIP Tour.

Photo by Tony Riccio, Elite Adventure Tours

more photos: http://eliteadventuretours.com/gallery/LACAinPasadena4-19-07

For links to Photos, Sponsor Lists, Itinerary and more, please click below:

LOS ANGELES CONCIERGE ASSOCIATION

March, 2007

LOS ANGELES CONCIERGE ASSOCIATION

Destination Pasadena has been selected by the Los Angeles Concierge Association

to host "A Perfect Day in Pasadena" scheduled for April 19, 2007.

LOS ANGELES CONCIERGE ASSOCIATION

February, 2007

New pictures - this time from Los Cabos, Mexico

January, 2007

A letter from Rica Duff, Board Member of the Pasadena Senior Center:

read more testimonials

December, 2006

For those who appreciate good celebrity sightings, take a look at the updated list.

Dec. 26, 2006: Added Al Pacino and Baby Face

celebrity sightings

October, 2006

The 2006 Pasadena Follies, a fundraiser for the Pasadena Senior Center, was a big hit on Sunday night, October 22. The song and dance revue featuring prominent Pasadena leaders was hailed as the "best ever" and received great critical acclaim.

Michael Durand took on the role of Producer/Director.

Links and feedback:

Pasadena Follies 2006

August, 2006

The Reviews are In:

SISTERS OF BUBIK VIDEO

"THIS IS GREAT! Excellent work" - James McPherson, Pasadena Now

"Great flick!" - Karen

"Hey, good job, Michael. I like it." - Tim

"Great video! (And cute bubbly gals!)" - Don M., Sausalito

"Video looks cool." - Ino

"Very nice." - Rica

"Great work." - Steve B., New York

"Another winner!" - Mark D., Florida

Nice job. I forwarded it to a friend of mine who is doing some

promotional work for some shop keepers in Monrovia. - Thaine

SISTERS OF BUBIK VIDEO

~~~~~~~

ADJOA VIDEO

"THANK YOU!!! My goodness the video is great!

I'm so thankful and blessed. You're wonderful.
I will definitely pass on your contact and spread the news of your work."

- Adjoa

adjoa video on youtube.com

July, 2006

Take a look at some web video samples by Craftsman Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NaIlB0MH8o

June, 2006

Michael Durand has been named Producer/Director of the 2006 Pasadena Follies.

The musical revue is a fundraiser for the Pasadena Senior Center that uses humor and satires to celebrate life in Pasadena.

June, 2006

Michael Durand has been working as the acting Director of Sales and Marketing for Pasadena Walking Tours, Craftsman Video and durand piano. Look for new business cards and postcards in the near future.

May, 2006

Puerto Vallarta Mexico - Michael Durand assisted Creative Planning of Los Altos with the Siemen's President's Circle of Excellence at the Four Seasons Punta Mita Resort near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Michael was able to take a break to swim with the dolphins.

Equal Time

May 8, 2006: Craftsman Photo & Video donated photography services to Diana Peterson-More. She and Anthony Portantino are the front-runners for the Democratic nomination to run for the California State Assembly.

April 25, 2006: Michael Durand played background piano for the Pasadena Senior Center during a reception celebrating the unveiling of the new Senior Center logo and the dedication of the Pete Clentzos Olympic Room.

April, 2006: Michael Durand finished editing a legacy video for Euclid Productions. Nearly three hours of raw interview footage was cut with the client into an hour and forty-minute presentation creating a new family heirloom.

April, 2006: Craftsman Photo & Video helped produce a six-minute video segment for Encore Cafe', the Pasadena Senior Center's TV show by and for seniors. The show features a unique tap dancing group - all the ladies are in wheelchairs. An interesting look at the endless desire of people to express themselves.

March 18, 2006: Craftsman Photo & Video - Michael Durand was the photographer for Anthony Portantino for State Assembly campaign brochure.

Blossom Time at the Robinson Memorial

April 12, 2006

Free Showing of Zorthian DVD at "Hey, That's Amore" Coffee House

April 10, 2006

"Hey, That's Amore" Coffee House on Historic Holly Street (between Raymond and Fair Oaks) in Pasadena offered a special free screening of "Jirayr H. Zorthian - His Life in His Words" on Saturday night, April 8, 2006. "It was a great feeling standing out on the sidewalk, seeing my pictures on the big screen t.v. and hearing my music and watching people watching my work," said Michael Durand, writer, producer, director, videographer, musician, and video editor of the 2 1/2 hour documentary on the lively artist. "Having this type of venue is so important to Pasadena. Live music, videos, readings, artwork of all kinds - that's the culture every city needs."

Durand's documentary of the amazing local character is available on DVD and is on sale at "Hey, That's Amore" Coffee House as well as Canterbury Records, Vroman's, Pasadena Museum of History. In Altadena, find the DVDs at Webster's and the Rancho Bar on Lake Avenue in Altadena.

Durand Productions is the sponsor and producer of "All the World's a Stage," Pasadena's Television of Arts and Culture.

Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park

Arcadia, California

April 8 & 9, 2006

New photographs of Santa Anita Park were added on April 12, 2006

February 19, 2006

Michael Durand provided background piano music for a party at Sisters of Bubik Coffee House on Raymond in Old Pasadena, 1/2 block south of Colorado Boulevard.

February 16, 2006

Destination Pasadena Co-Hosts Delegate Dinner

Dignitaries visiting from Pasadena's Sister City in

Xicheng, Beijing, China, were welcomed at the Pasadena Senior Center.

Story and photos

February 6 - 12, 2006: Photographs from Wailea, Maui, Hawai'i

February 3, 2006: durand productions Gives the Gift of Music

Michael Durand played keyboards at a fund raising drive kick-off dinner at the

South Pasadena San Marino YMCA

January 29, 2006: Pasadena's Lunar New Year Parade and Festival photos

January 28, 2006: New page: Celebrity Sightings and Encounters

January, 2006: Lois, Nathan, Kevin Bacon and the Rolling Stones in New York City

January 20, 2006: durand photography

Michael Durand flew up the coast to be the photographer for a private party for Truveo

in the Carnelian Room on the 52nd floor of the Bank of America Building in San Francisco.

The company was just sold to America Online for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Bank of America

From the 52nd floor at sunset

The event was another first-class production by Creative Planning of Los Altos, California

for Truveo

January 4, 2006: Photographs from the Rose Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Congratulations Texas Longhorns!

January 1, 2006: Michael Durand accepting his "National Champion" award at Pasadena's Rose Bowl on Sunday.

2005

December 30, 2005 - Michael Durand had a chance to plug Pasadena Walking Tours on NBC, channel four in Los Angeles. Weatherman Mark Thompson, who was reporting live from Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena, interviewed Mr. Durand long enough to promote Pasadena Walking Tours. Doug Kriegel of FOX news used a clip of Michael Durand answering a question about security and safety. "Take the greatest parade in the world and add the greatest college football match-up in decades at the Rose Bowl, and Pasadena is host two world-class events of human history," Durand said. "Security is vitally important." Cut.

December 29, 2005 - New photos of the Rose Parade floats being decorated. Also, New Years Quotes.

December 26, 2005 - New page: Pasadena Walking Tours. Destination Pasadena conducted the first walking tour on December 22, 2005. It was FUN and educational. No matter how much someone knows about Pasadena, they can't know it all. It's interesting to share facts and observations.

December 13, 2005 - Encore Cafe is an award-winning television show produced by volunteers at the Pasadena Senior Center. Here is a new page: Encore Cafe.

December 12, 2005 - Children from the Roosevelt Elementary School and Mayor Bill Bogaard sang Christmas songs along with the piano playing of Michael Durand at the Pasadena Museum of History, today. Thanks, again, to Brad Macneil who organized the event.

December 8, 2005 - A few new jokes and quotes.

December 7, 2005 - Pearl Harbor was bombed on this day in 1941. It led to the dropping of nuclear bombs on two big cities in Japan. The world hoped to never see a horror like that again. How much have we learned since then? Are we evolving? Editor's note:

December 5, 2005 - durandpro.com added two new photo galleries from yesterday's "Mad Hatter Tea Party" Fundraiser for the Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival at Pasadena's Pacific Asia Museum.

Comments from the planner:

"Wow!!! Thanks - the pictures are AWESOME!!! Fabulous!!!"

- Wendy Fujihara Anderson

Wow! Productions

Producer, Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival

www.pasadenacherryblossom.org

December 4, 2005 - Michael Durand was the official photographer at a Fundraiser for the Pasadena's Cherry Blossom Festival at the Pacific Asia Museum. See above.

December 3, 2005 - The University of Southern California (USC) SOUNDLY defeated the University of Southern California at Los Angeles (UCLA) at the L.A. Coliseum today in one of the biggest college football games of the year. Undefeated USC with multiple Heisman trophy-level players demolished UCLA, the cross-town rivals. It was never close. The final score was 66 - 19.

The win by USC earns them a trip to the Rose Bowl against Texas on January 4th and a chance at an unprecedented third consecutive national championship. Right here in Pasadena.

Photograph by Michael Durand

November 27, 2005 - Photos from a Sunday Stroll around Pasadena.

November 20, 2005 - Photos of the 2005 Pasadena Doo Dah Parade

More 2005 Pasadena Doo Dah Parade photos

November 17, 2005 - One of Michael Durand's first teachers of video editing and production was Tyrone Rucker. He was one of the more welcoming of the PCAC staff. Tyrone passed away on November 17, 2005. Thanks again, "Big Dadee." Rest in peace.

November 3 - 10, 2005 - dp worked with Peter Miller of Creative Planning on a VeriFone group to Miami, just days after power and air conditioning were restored to the Sheraton Bal Harbour. Signs of hurricane Wilma where everywhere; lots of broken tree limbs, ripped awnings, blown down signs, blue-tarped roofs. The hotel also housed electrical workers recruited from around the country brought in to restore power. Over 100,000 residents were still without power when we left our meeting on November 10, 2005.

Meanwhile, the program went off without a hitch. Here is a picture of the lounge area at the '70's night disco party. Click on link for more VeriFone Miami photographs.

More VeriFone Miami Photographs

October 27, 2005 - Michael Durand was the Photographer for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Halloween Party at the Forever Hollywood Cemetery.

More Hollywood Halloween Photographs by Michael Durand

October 23, 2005 - Michael Durand was the Stage Manager for the 2005 Pasadena Follies, a performance to benefit the Pasadena Senior Center. That's Michael in the blue-green tie-died T-shirt.

Photo by Candice Merrill

For more Follies photos, please click here >>>>> Pasadena Now

October 16, 2005 - New K. Cove photos by Michael Durand

September 1, 2005 - The Pasadena Weekly published a great article on the Zorthian DVD: His Life, His Words, by Desiree Morales

August 31, 2005 - Zorthian DVD now available at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena

August 24, 2005 - Zorthian DVD featured on the Richard Feynman website: www.feynman.com

August 23, 2005 - Canterbury Books called again today and said they sold out of the Zorthian DVD. I dropped off more copies this afternoon.

August 16, 2005 - Canterbury Books called today and said they sold out of the Zorthian DVD. I dropped off more copies this afternoon. Thank you so much to everyone who is buying this program!

August 13, 2005 - Several copies of the Zorthian DVD were left to sell on consignment with Abril Books and Sardarabad Bookstore in Glendale. Jirayr Zorthian was a survivor of the Armenian genocide who lived to be 92 years old. Google "Armenia" to learn about an amazing culture with a fascinating history, which is so alive to this day. Better yet, go visit Sardarabad Bookstore and Abril Books in Glendale and ask for the Zorthian DVD.

dp also dropped a copy off at the "New Armenia" daily newspaper in Glendale. We're hoping to have the show reviewed, but I know full well that dp can't read the symbols of the Armenian language and might never know if the DVD was praised or trashed!

August 6, 2005 - A few copies of the Zorthian DVD were left with the nice folks at the classic Rancho Bar, way up on North Lake. The Rancho was one of Jirayr's favorite watering holes. He LOVED to tell his stories. Ask some of the locals about "Jerry." Then go next door and talk to Ben McGinty. Ask about the Underground Arts Society. They have one of Jirayr Zorthian's works on display.

Another area classic carrying the ZDVD is Canterbury Records on Colorado, near Lake, in the heart of Pasadena.

August 2, 2005 - The nicest people work at Webster's Village in Altadena. If you haven't been to their shopping complex up on Lake Avenue, you're missing out on a piece of Americana. Family owned since 1926, Webster's is an Altadena institution. They very kindly agreed to sell the Zorthian DVD on consignment, today. Please visit their link on the Zorthian page.

July 29, 2005 - A Craig's List ad called for a cast for a goth horror film. Instead of being a white faced, black clothed extra, Michael Durand volunteered to take photos. Here are the photos: "Beast"

July 28, 2005 - Another trip to San Francisco, last week. As the keyboardist for the "Hodads" at the Mill Valley Golf Club, Michael Durand got to see the joy on the faces of the dancers and music lovers from up on stage. It was a lovely thing to see, whenever the keyboard player could lift his eyes from the sheet music. dp rehearsed with the band for over 10 really fun hours - drums, sax, guitar, bass, keyboards (me) and vocal. Some great oldies:

"Wooly Bully" "She's Not There" "I Saw Her Standing There" "Day Tripper" "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" and many more...

Nothing like hearing the crowd on the dance floor call for more. dp recommends rock stardom (or any reasonable or unreasonable facsimile) to everyone.

Take a look at the "cheat sheet" - a collection of guesses at the chords of some favorite songs.

>>> NEWS FLASH! The Zorthian DVD has arrived! Quick! Click here!!! >>> ZDVD

July 8, 2005 - Another photo album has been added. Please visit Pasadena Architecture often to see frequent updates.

July 4, 2005 - Two new photo galleries have been added: A visit to the Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (Pasadena's next door neighbor) and images from Pasadena's Madison Heights Neighborhood Association's Fourth of July celebration.

June 30, 2005 - Save the Raymond Theatre. durand productions supports the artists, preservationists and people of vision who see that saving Pasadena's grand old theatre is vastly better than creating more condos and retail in our already overcrowded city. Will more residents and cars make our air better or worse? Will more residents help our traffic problems or make them worse? Won't there obviously be a greater demand for precious water? We are asked every year to cut back on electricity. Will that improve or get worse with new residents?

Or would the spirit of Pasadena be made greater by preserving the beautiful, like our world class theatre by bringing back to life a viable and exciting space for live music? Visit Save the Raymond Theatre for photos and links about this ongoing struggle.

We hope that, like the bitter Scrooge in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," the developers and their supporters will realize that having a warm spirit in a peaceful soul is worth a thousand times more than a field full of million dollar bills. May they come around and also support what is best for Pasadena and help Save the Raymond Theatre.

June 25 & 26, 2005 - durand productions was commissioned by Pasadena's television station KPAS to record video of Pasadena's annual Chalk Festival. Photos were added to this website on June 27.

Call to find out how to have your event covered by durand productions.

Click here to see Chalk Festival 2005 photos.

June 16, 2005 - Photos from Kirby Cove were added yesterday.

June 15, 2005 - dp's latest video project is with Pasadena Living Magazine (PLM). They invited us to produce an ad for their website for the upcoming Chalk Festival. We have been videotaping the art and the spectacle at Chalk Festival for many years and have used the best video then added either original music that Michael Durand wrote and performed, or used work from some amazingly talented musicians.

May 11 - 18, 2005 - durand productions was once again contracted to assist Creative Planning with the logistics and operations of another Siemen's Medical Group international sales incentive program. Click on the photo below to see more pictures from the Four Seasons, Punta Mita, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - durand productions went on a very interesting and informative press tour of the offices for the Spitzer Space Telescope project at Pasadena's California Institute of Technology, already two years into the five-year study of our universe.

Thank you to the Spitzer team at NASA/JPL - Caltech for the fascinating tour and your great work at keeping an eye on the sky. Learn about this and other fascination subjects on "FYI @ JPL" only on "All the World's a Stage," Pasadena's Television of Arts and Culture.

For more information on the Spitzer Space Telescope: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/

Saturday, February 12, 2005: Michael Durand was the background keyboard player at the Pasadena Museum of History during the Founder's dinner. Live keyboard music is what elevates a good event to a special event. Make your next event special. See the Music section of this web site for rates.

Click the photo below to explore the Fenyes Mansion (pictured below) at the Pasadena Museum of History on the corner of Orange Grove and Walnut in Pasadena. Better yet, go visit! It's a treasure.