Tuesday, June 22, 2010

KICKSTARTER!!!



You may have heard rumblings through newsletters or facebook, that we have launched a new fundraising campaign at a website called Kickstarter. I'm here to tell you, the rumblings are true! Kickstarter.com is this awesome site that helps fundees find funders. In the website's own words: "Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors... Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands."


We have launched a campaign specifically for DREAMERS OF THE DAY. Although donations on Kickstarter are not tax deductible, they do come with rewards attached. Rewards like free tickets and behind the scenes access to the production. Take a look at our Kickstarter page to learn more or to make a donation. (there's a little video and everything):

Kickstarter - Dreamers of the Day on Stage!


As you'll see from the site, we only have until August 1st to hit (and hopefully surpass) our goal. So, the clock is ticking!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

GOING TO TAHITI is going to the BAR!!!


When I first moved to New York and was faced with a big scary rent and no real job which would help me pay the big scary rent, I went through a couple of stages. The first stage was - Temp Jobs, wherein I signed up with 8 different temp companies and took every office job that I could (no kidding I have a scrapbook of letterhead from like 30 different temp jobs.)

I quickly realized that the whole temp job thing sucked and so I moved on to stage two - Waitressing, wherein I got a CRAPPY job waiting tables at a restaurant near my Upper East Side apartment (a two bedroom with 3 people in it. This wasn't an UES penthouse, people). Now, this crappy job had a couple of good things going for it: 1) the food was really good, so when I worked long hours and I needed to eat there, I had access to a good meal and 2) the staff of mainly middle easterners served up some great home cooked (or restaurant kitchen cooked) meals that weren't on the menu but that they invited me to join them in consuming. So the date, rice, chicken dish I had during Ramadan was awesome and something I still think about on occasion. That being said, with the exception of those to things, it was a crappy job and leaving that place was one of the greatest things I did.

And then there was stage Three - Bartending. This was my favorite stage. This was the stage where I spent a lot of money and took a two week bartending course so that I could learn to tend bar and then I would immediately be hired by a Cheers-like establishment, where everyone would know my name and would love that I did this whole "tend bar" thing while I worked on my directing projects and within a year or two, I would be a famous and successful director and I would leave the bartending profession with fond memories and great stories... it was a brilliant plan... too bad it didn't so much, you know, happen. Instead, after I spent all my money to take the bartending course and I went out there with my brand spanking new bartending resume which read "graduate of the American Bartending School" and then nothing, wouldn't you know it? No one would hire me because I lacked "experience." WhatEVER! People are so picky. Anyway, that little setback sent me back into Stage One and the various temp jobs led to more permanent office jobs and a whole lot of office experience - ugh.

"Who cares, Jess?" you ask.
"Well you do," I answer. And here's why:

Finally, after 15 years of my bartending certificate lying dormant in a drawer, I am resurrecting it, like a Phoenix from the ashes, and I. am. tending. BAR! Ok, so it's not like I've got a new job or anything, I'm guest bartending at BAR12 at 206 34th Street in NYC. And it's only from 6-9pm. And it's a one night only engagement - FRIDAY, June 25th. And, I'll have a "real" bartender backing me up with helpful reminders on how to make, uh, just about everything. But still, it should be fun.

It's all in support of our upcoming production of Dreamers of the Day. It's $10 at the door or $17 if you want the extended happy hour. AND, we just heard from a donor who is willing to match funds raised up to $1000! So come on out and help make our bartending night a success. And seriously, with me behind the bar, there should be no end to the hilarity that will ensue as I try my Tom Cruise Cocktail moves. (If anyone from management at Bar12 is reading this, no worries, my "Tom Cruise Cocktail moves" are limited to a cocky grin.) Oh, and I make a small request that you not decide to play stump the bartender with your drink orders and keep it to things like "vodka, on the rocks." I already know what goes in that drink order. Heh.

Here are the details again:
When: Friday, June 25th 6:00-9:00pm
Where: Bar12 at 206 East 34th Street
How much: $10 to get in the door or $17 for the extended happy hour

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Second Draft - DONE! Now, in search of a Crew!

So the second draft of the script is finished and is currently with a few trusted readers for editing suggestions. It's still entirely too long (need to cut about 30 pages) but it's at least in production form and, in fact, in good enough shape that if I had a cast and crew right now I would feel comfortable workshopping it. The biggest change of this round of editing is that the play, originally envisioned as a one woman show, now includes a cast of 5 people. It's a pretty big change but one that I think will really benefit the overall production.

Speaking of the overall productions, I am currently looking for a crew to get started on pre-production design. If you are a set, lighting, sound, costume, or props designer, or if you are an artist of any type and are looking to try your hand at theater, or if you know someone who fits into one of those categories, please send them my way. They can reach me at jessica@goingtotahitiproductions.com. We're looking at performing the show in a blackbox theater with a minimal set and I think for the right kind of designer this could be a really fun project.