So, I'm sure some of you are wondering: "wasn't there supposed to be a GTTP winetasting this Saturday? Why didn't I get an invitation? Does Jessica think my money isn't good enough for her?"
...I assure you that is not the case.
For those of you who have not heard the saga...I had a place in mind and was having trouble hearing back from the guy in charge, who we'll call Vinnie. I went back and forth and at many points had been assured that the space was booked and that we were good to go (hence my mention of it in the last newsletter) and then, when I finally Vinnie on the phone (and that was VERY difficult to do), I was told (a week and a half before the winetasting) that the venue wasn't available and that they'd have to do the winetasting another time. Pissed doesn't begin to describe it.
So I spent a couple of days composing my angry retort in my head and BFitW (that's best fiance in the world, for those of you not hip to the abbreviations of the kids these days - OK, I made it up but the title still applies), BFitW spent several days making calls and figuring out a way to do the winetasting somewhere else and with some other distributors. The decision we came to was that we're going to push the winetasting to September 20th. The show will be in its opening weekend and, though it would be good to have that money now, I think there will be better attendance at both the show and the fundraiser if they happen in conjunction with each other.
But, the saga does not end there. Two days ago, I get a call from the original venue - this time from a different guy - we'll call him Foley. He asks me if we're on for Saturday. After a bit of spluttering and a few what the hecks (though, I assure you "heck" was not the word racing through my head) I said that I had been told by Vinnie that it wasn't available and so I had had no choice but to cancel it. So Foley tells me, "yeah, we fired Vinnie and the venue was available the whole time."
So, not to sound all valley girl or anything (damn, I'm dating myself with that comment) but I'm totally bummed. It's too late to arrange for the wine tasting this weekend (aside from the fact that I'm not sure I can get the necessary 30 people to the event in 4 days time) I have already scheduled rehearsals for all day on Saturday. And, there's no other weekend before the show opens when we're not rehearsing, or out of town or both. So basically it means I'm out a big fundraiser that was supposed to happen during the rehearsal period. Very frustrating! And I need to talk to Foley and see if there's another time that we can do something.
It's just a big bummer. Not tragic or anything. Not unrecoverable, but seriously a bummer. This is my bummed face:
: (
(yeah, I know. It's not very original, but it totally captures my feeling when I think of what could have been)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The crew is assembled...
Just a quick post to let everyone know that the main crew positions have been filled and the first full production meeting is Thursday night.
Set Designer - Bibiana is an artist who has worked in all different mediums. She has some fantastic ideas about using projections to establish the settings of the 30 different locations in the play. Considering my love for the most recent production of Sunday In The Park With George which was all projections all the time, this is a match made in heaven. Oh yeah, and she's a sci fi fan.
Lighting/Sound Designer - Jon has done light and sound design all over the city and currently has a standing gig at Lehman College. He has already started thinking "outside the box" which will be particularly important for this show and it's 40 scene transitions (yes I said 40).
Stage Manager/ Property Master - Tiffane has been an actor, director and playwright at Southeastern Louisiana University as well as wearing the stage manager and asm hat on more than a few productions. She is almost as enthusiastic to get started as I am - if that's possible.
The only other crew position I'm looking to fill is the special fx makeup artist who will create (and teach my actress how to apply and remove), the scar she wears in the first act. I have a lead on a couple of possibles, but if you have anyone in mind, send 'em my way!
Set Designer - Bibiana is an artist who has worked in all different mediums. She has some fantastic ideas about using projections to establish the settings of the 30 different locations in the play. Considering my love for the most recent production of Sunday In The Park With George which was all projections all the time, this is a match made in heaven. Oh yeah, and she's a sci fi fan.
Lighting/Sound Designer - Jon has done light and sound design all over the city and currently has a standing gig at Lehman College. He has already started thinking "outside the box" which will be particularly important for this show and it's 40 scene transitions (yes I said 40).
Stage Manager/ Property Master - Tiffane has been an actor, director and playwright at Southeastern Louisiana University as well as wearing the stage manager and asm hat on more than a few productions. She is almost as enthusiastic to get started as I am - if that's possible.
The only other crew position I'm looking to fill is the special fx makeup artist who will create (and teach my actress how to apply and remove), the scar she wears in the first act. I have a lead on a couple of possibles, but if you have anyone in mind, send 'em my way!
...and we have a cast
Hello All,
I've been meaning to post for about a week now - the show is cast and we have an exciting, terrific group of actors.
9 actors. 3 One Acts. 1 evening of fun (actually 9 evenings of fun what with there being 9 performances and all...but, you know what I mean).
In order of appearance, the cast is:
ACTOR A......................................Lena Hurt
ACTOR B......................................Bayla Whitten
ACTOR C......................................Avery Pearson
ACTOR D......................................John Joseph MacDonald
ACTOR E......................................Joe Palermo
ACTOR F......................................Adam Feingold
ACTOR G......................................Rebecca Lovett
ACTOR H......................................Marika Daciuk
ACTOR I.......................................Ashley Fox Linton
Rehearsals have begun and are already going really well.
We are all really enjoying the process of discovery that comes with a new project. And for me, the thrill of finally being able to really work with these scripts - to workshop the plays and discover what they're about and who these people are, to Direct (with a big ol' capital D), well...it's kinda the reason I was put on this Earth! And man, is it FUN!!!
I've been meaning to post for about a week now - the show is cast and we have an exciting, terrific group of actors.
9 actors. 3 One Acts. 1 evening of fun (actually 9 evenings of fun what with there being 9 performances and all...but, you know what I mean).
In order of appearance, the cast is:
ACTOR A......................................Lena Hurt
ACTOR B......................................Bayla Whitten
ACTOR C......................................Avery Pearson
ACTOR D......................................John Joseph MacDonald
ACTOR E......................................Joe Palermo
ACTOR F......................................Adam Feingold
ACTOR G......................................Rebecca Lovett
ACTOR H......................................Marika Daciuk
ACTOR I.......................................Ashley Fox Linton
Rehearsals have begun and are already going really well.
We are all really enjoying the process of discovery that comes with a new project. And for me, the thrill of finally being able to really work with these scripts - to workshop the plays and discover what they're about and who these people are, to Direct (with a big ol' capital D), well...it's kinda the reason I was put on this Earth! And man, is it FUN!!!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Quick Update - Auditions
Just a quick update: The first round of auditions happened last night. Another round is scheduled for Saturday. Kat, my casting director, is beYOND amazing. Auditions went well last night and I am VERY excited to finally hear these words, which have lived only in my and Camilla's heads for years, actually coming out of actors mouths. I will keep you all posted when the show is cast!
Friday, August 1, 2008
WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!!
That's right ladies and gents, the production has been scheduled!!!
IN THE EBB will open on September 18th! We have booked performance space at The Sage Theater, in the heart of Times Square - 711 Seventh Avenue. Their website is: www.sagetheater.us. As of right now, the performance dates are September 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, October 2, 3, and 4 (there may be additional shows scheduled later but for now there are 9 performances scheduled). I believe the curtain will be at 7:30pm, but I'll keep everyone posted about that as it gets closer and on the how and where to get tickets. As you may be able to tell from my tone in this post I am ECSTATIC! Just beyond excited (as Little Red would say, "well, excited and scared"). The first round of auditions are scheduled for this Tuesday. Actually, Kat, my spectacular casting director, and I had our first casting meeting last night and it was absolutely thrilling. This is the first time I've ever casted a show with the assistance of a casting director and I've got to say, having someone who knows what they're doing helping you out, is a whole new world compared to what I'm used to. It's been a joy, and we haven't even gotten to the actual casting sessions yet.
I'm now on the look out for my production team. If you have any thoughts on someone who might be interested in Stage Managing, Light Design, and/or Set Design, please send them my way. I'm afraid there's no pay but it could be a really great experience for the right folks.
I think that's everything for now. Keep checking back for updates. I'll try to post regularly and let everyone know how auditions/rehearsals are going.
IN THE EBB will open on September 18th! We have booked performance space at The Sage Theater, in the heart of Times Square - 711 Seventh Avenue. Their website is: www.sagetheater.us. As of right now, the performance dates are September 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, October 2, 3, and 4 (there may be additional shows scheduled later but for now there are 9 performances scheduled). I believe the curtain will be at 7:30pm, but I'll keep everyone posted about that as it gets closer and on the how and where to get tickets. As you may be able to tell from my tone in this post I am ECSTATIC! Just beyond excited (as Little Red would say, "well, excited and scared"). The first round of auditions are scheduled for this Tuesday. Actually, Kat, my spectacular casting director, and I had our first casting meeting last night and it was absolutely thrilling. This is the first time I've ever casted a show with the assistance of a casting director and I've got to say, having someone who knows what they're doing helping you out, is a whole new world compared to what I'm used to. It's been a joy, and we haven't even gotten to the actual casting sessions yet.
I'm now on the look out for my production team. If you have any thoughts on someone who might be interested in Stage Managing, Light Design, and/or Set Design, please send them my way. I'm afraid there's no pay but it could be a really great experience for the right folks.
I think that's everything for now. Keep checking back for updates. I'll try to post regularly and let everyone know how auditions/rehearsals are going.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Search for Space
The search for space is seriously underway. Actually, it's been under way for a couple of weeks. I've been calling and emailing and looking at different performance spaces in the hopes of booking the location, settling an opening night date, and forcing the rest of the production to happen from there. It's actually a really big leap of faith for me. I definitely have some money in the bank, don't get me wrong, but I haven't come close to my entire budget. In fact, doing the show right now, I'm not sure how I will afford anything in the budget except the performance space. At the same time, I feel like it has to just happen. Along with the tax issue (I need to spend the money that I've raised this year, or get hit with some SERIOUS taxes), I also feel like it is time to do the damn show. I mean I've been talking about it for a year and a half, it's time to (in the words of Alan Shepard, the first American in space) "light this candle." So lighting it I am attempting to do by finding a space and getting this show on the road, off the ground, you know, making it happen.
The search is going well and I actually have a very good lead on a really great place and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out. I'm scheduled to sign the contract and put down the deposit on Monday. So, if all goes according to plan, I will hopefully be posting soon with details of the dates of the performance, and the location...
...and what a location it is - right in the middle of Times Square. Talk about the theater district...Hee!!!
More to come soon.
The search is going well and I actually have a very good lead on a really great place and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out. I'm scheduled to sign the contract and put down the deposit on Monday. So, if all goes according to plan, I will hopefully be posting soon with details of the dates of the performance, and the location...
...and what a location it is - right in the middle of Times Square. Talk about the theater district...Hee!!!
More to come soon.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Singing the Fundraising Blues
So, I'm planning my first fundraiser and it's not going as well or easily as I had hoped. ...did you know that it costs money to throw a fundraiser? When did things get so complicated and expensive? Basically, I just thought I'd decide to do a fundraiser, set it up, and make loads of money on it. Instead, I need to find a place to hold it, and find a way to afford the place, and make sure that people will come and spend their money, and just, you know, actually organize and hold a fundraiser. So, instead of thinking about how overwhelming it is, I'm trying to do things one step at a time.
Step 1: Decide what type of fundraiser you'd like to hold.
I had a couple of ideas in mind. I know that I'm going to do a winetasting (that's been a given for awhile). I also would like to do a cabaret. I was thinking about doing a selection of Sondheim songs. Or maybe a bunch of songs where women sing men's parts or men sing women's parts. Or maybe both - Sondheim songs where women sing the men's parts and men sing the women's parts...something fun. Another fundraiser I was thinking of doing was a cocktail party, or maybe a staged reading and then I thought I'd do both together. I don't want to do a full staged reading because I don't want to give away the whole show until the production is finished (you may have noticed my avoidance of spoilers), so maybe a cocktail party, after the show is cast, where we show vignettes from the show to give a taste...oh and, since it's a cocktail party, also everyone can get drunk. But, pick one, Jess, and go from there. So first comes the wine tasting.
Step 2: Decide on location.
So a friend of mine, who has been doing the fundraising thing a LOT longer than me, held a fundraising winetasting at this great place, a wine bar in the city. So, when I was at her fundraiser, she introduced me to the man in charge and we talked about me doing my own thing perhaps around July 12th. We exchanged cards with the plan of emailing and speaking the following week.
Step3: Negotiate the deal.
So after some back and forth with the wine guy, I'm hoping for an August 23rd date. It took some wrangling and it still hasn't been settled yet, but I'm optimistic that it will work out. The first date I wanted didn't work because it was too soon and the place wasn't available. Then the second date I wanted I lost to a wedding party. So know I'm putting my money on date #3. Keep your fingers crossed.
Step4: Pay the money.
I believe the next step will be to put a deposit on the space. This will hold the date and allow me to have the actual fundraiser. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the date will be available and that it will all go off without a hitch.
Step5: Decide on the wines.
I'm hoping that once the date is settled, the wine guy and I will sit down and decide what types of wines we'd like to have and sort out the raison d'etre for the fundraising being, you know, a winetasting.
Step6: Send out the invitations.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to do it by evite or if I want to send out real invitations. I think the "real" invitations thing is better but I'm not sure about spending the money on stamps. I am trying to keep costs to a minimum. I think I'm going to go the evite route and have the option for people to prepay before the event for less money than if they just showed up at the tasting on the day. There will probably be a 25-30 person limit and because space is limited so I want to make sure that anyone who wants to do it can come.
Step7: Show up on the day and make lots of money.
Hopefully it will be as simple as showing up on the appointed day and the money just rolling in. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I do feel that I need to just sort of pull the trigger and get at least one fundraiser under my belt. For as much as I've broken it down into easily manageable steps, I still feel like it's overwhelming and the possibility that people will give me money for something (despite the $4000 in donations I've already received) for nothing in return (or in this case for some wine in return) still seems unlikely. I think it's a feeling, (it all comes back to asking for money from friends and strangers thing), that anyone who is trying to raise money, just has to get over...
...I'm working on it.
Never fear, I'll keep you all posted on the struggle.
Step 1: Decide what type of fundraiser you'd like to hold.
I had a couple of ideas in mind. I know that I'm going to do a winetasting (that's been a given for awhile). I also would like to do a cabaret. I was thinking about doing a selection of Sondheim songs. Or maybe a bunch of songs where women sing men's parts or men sing women's parts. Or maybe both - Sondheim songs where women sing the men's parts and men sing the women's parts...something fun. Another fundraiser I was thinking of doing was a cocktail party, or maybe a staged reading and then I thought I'd do both together. I don't want to do a full staged reading because I don't want to give away the whole show until the production is finished (you may have noticed my avoidance of spoilers), so maybe a cocktail party, after the show is cast, where we show vignettes from the show to give a taste...oh and, since it's a cocktail party, also everyone can get drunk. But, pick one, Jess, and go from there. So first comes the wine tasting.
Step 2: Decide on location.
So a friend of mine, who has been doing the fundraising thing a LOT longer than me, held a fundraising winetasting at this great place, a wine bar in the city. So, when I was at her fundraiser, she introduced me to the man in charge and we talked about me doing my own thing perhaps around July 12th. We exchanged cards with the plan of emailing and speaking the following week.
Step3: Negotiate the deal.
So after some back and forth with the wine guy, I'm hoping for an August 23rd date. It took some wrangling and it still hasn't been settled yet, but I'm optimistic that it will work out. The first date I wanted didn't work because it was too soon and the place wasn't available. Then the second date I wanted I lost to a wedding party. So know I'm putting my money on date #3. Keep your fingers crossed.
Step4: Pay the money.
I believe the next step will be to put a deposit on the space. This will hold the date and allow me to have the actual fundraiser. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the date will be available and that it will all go off without a hitch.
Step5: Decide on the wines.
I'm hoping that once the date is settled, the wine guy and I will sit down and decide what types of wines we'd like to have and sort out the raison d'etre for the fundraising being, you know, a winetasting.
Step6: Send out the invitations.
I'm still trying to decide if I want to do it by evite or if I want to send out real invitations. I think the "real" invitations thing is better but I'm not sure about spending the money on stamps. I am trying to keep costs to a minimum. I think I'm going to go the evite route and have the option for people to prepay before the event for less money than if they just showed up at the tasting on the day. There will probably be a 25-30 person limit and because space is limited so I want to make sure that anyone who wants to do it can come.
Step7: Show up on the day and make lots of money.
Hopefully it will be as simple as showing up on the appointed day and the money just rolling in. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I do feel that I need to just sort of pull the trigger and get at least one fundraiser under my belt. For as much as I've broken it down into easily manageable steps, I still feel like it's overwhelming and the possibility that people will give me money for something (despite the $4000 in donations I've already received) for nothing in return (or in this case for some wine in return) still seems unlikely. I think it's a feeling, (it all comes back to asking for money from friends and strangers thing), that anyone who is trying to raise money, just has to get over...
...I'm working on it.
Never fear, I'll keep you all posted on the struggle.
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