Luke Duke and Wilhelmina Slater can SING!

Went to see Sondheim on Sondheim so I thought I'd enter a little review of it here on the blog. I don't think this will come as a surprise to anyone who knows me but I LOVED it. Seriously, Stephen Sondheim is a GOD!

I went expecting a revue of Sondheim songs - basically a concert - not really what I want when I'm seeing a Sondheim show, but then again, Sondheim is a god so it's not like it was going to be bad. And, don't get me wrong, concerts are great and all, it's just that I'm not a big concert fan. So, I went in expecting some great songs, sung well by some good actors and that was that...except that wasn't that. The show was so much more than a few musical theater actors wandering around the stage and singing. There was this really interesting revolving, moving set of television screens which had images and interviews playing on them. The show followed Sondheim's life roughly chronologically and playing on the screens were clips from all different interviews Sondheim has done in the past (and I suspect one or two that he did specifically for this show). He would talk about how he came up with certain songs, or why a particular song was cut from a show or altered to serve the show better and interspersed with these interviews, the actors would perform the songs he was discussing in the interviews. It was pretty cool. And the actors are extraordinary. Barbara Cook, Tom Wopat and Vanessa Williams headline the show and they are wonderful.

Now, when I saw it, it was still in previews and there were a couple of technical glitches that they were still working out. I assume by now those glitches have been un-glitched. There was only one disappointment I had with the Sondheim songs and it was regarding a song from Company. In the versions of Company that I know and love there is a song called "Getting Married Today." It is one of my all time favorite Sondheim songs. It's about a woman who is about to get married and she starts to panic and realizes that she can't get married after all and it's one of those Sondheim, tongue twisting, really fast, lyrically beautiful and funny songs that I just LOVE watching an actor really nail.

"Great, Jess, so what's the problem?" Well, the problem, dear readers, with its presence in Sondheim on Sondheim was that they did a version called "The Wedding is Off" and it wasn't the same version. In fact it was almost a completely different song. So, my issue with it was twofold. On the first fold: I wished that I was hearing the version I'm familiar with because I love it. On the second fold: It wasn't clear if they were performing a version that was originally written but never performed or if they were doing a version that was simplified for this production because the actor didn't have the time to learn the more complicated version. And, honestly, either issue would have been fine, but I wish they had explained it. Since the whole show was sort of a behind the scenes glimpse into Sondheim's work and productions, the lack of explanation about that particular song felt kind of glaring. If it was a change made specifically for this show, I rather wished that they hadn't performed it at all...That being said, that was really my only "complaint" about the whole show. It was great fun all around and, for a Sondheim buff, it was an absolute joy.

SO MUCH TO REPORT!!!!

I know that everyone has been breathlessly anticipating my next posts and I have, sadly, left you all in the lurch. No longer! New posts start NOW! Although I have been absent from the blogosphere, that doesn't mean that I have been sitting with my feet up, eating bon bons and twiddling my thumbs. Much has gone on during the off-season, (can we tell that someone has been gearing up for opening day of the baseball season?), or in tv terms, much has gone on during our hiatus (someone's a tv junkie). Much of this news will be covered in greater depth in the quarterly newsletter, but I wanted to get the big news announced on the blog asap. So, let me get right to it:

THE SCRIPT
Here's the biggest news - I have FINISHED the first draft of the adaptation of Dreamers of the Day!!! Now, it is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too long and it's not nearly in production shape, but it was a BIG step towards getting the show off the ground. And, in the process of constructing the first draft, the production ideas and the directing ideas are a-flowing. It is VERY exciting and I'm hoping to have a pared down second draft completed by May 1st.

A DEPARTURE and AN ARRIVAL
Sadly, Stephanie Bayliss had to step down as Managing Director of GTTP. Her schedule of commitments got too crazy and she had to take a more backseat role. She is still with GTTP as a production consultant and our go-to Stage Manager, but she will no longer be involved in the day to day running of the company. We are sad to see her go but we are comforted by the fact that she did not go far. Stepping into her position, we are absolutely THRILLED to announce our new Consulting Producer, Rachel Dalton. Rachel comes to GTTP with a twin background in acting and business. Her completed bio will soon be up on the website but in the meantime, I wanted everyone to offer Rachel a rousing GTTP welcome.

WEBSITE REDESIGN
If you haven't recently taken a gander at www.goingtotahitiproductions.com, by all means, click on over. We went through a re-design of the website. It took some time to get the re-design off the ground but we're thrilled with the results. Feel free to drop us a line and let us know what you think.

THE MUCH BALLYHOOED FUNDRAISERS
You have heard here many things about fundraisers and workshops and all manner of activities which have yet to manifest themselves. I wanted to let everyone know that with Rachel on board, one of the things we are most focusing on in the upcoming weeks is locking down our 2010 calendar of events. As SOON as it is locked it will be up on the website and here on the blog so keep checking back regularly!!!

So that's the skinny. I'll post again soon.

Happy Halloween!!!

Well, at the time, it was a good plan...
I hope everyone had a great Halloween filled with pumkins and scary costumes and lots of candy. Unfortunately our Halloween Party fundraiser? ...yeah, not so much with the "happening" on that front. I'm not sure if it's fundraiser fatigue, or if people just lock in their Halloween plans well in advance and so weren't able to come to our l'il fundraiser, but, whatever the reason, the Halloween Costume party for 50 turned into a quiet dinner for 4... Don't get me wrong, fun was had, but I think I need to strategize anew about fundraising in general. I did feel like turning my eyes to the heavens with an: "I get it, Universe! Thanks!" But that seemed too melodramatic. Instead I just focused on a fun evening with friends, good food, lots of trick or treaters (meaning no more candy left over from the movie night), and the Yankees winning game 3 of the World Series. All in all it was a good night...if a low key one.

So, yeah, on the fundraiser front, I'm taking a break until 2010. I have put together a rough calendar for events all through next year and as soon as I lock down some details, I will definitely publish that calendar. Maybe if GTTP takes a little break from Evites and invitations, then when we come back in January, people will be more excited to hear from us after a period of silence...hopefully folks will approach us more with an, "ooohh, Going to Tahiti is back. Where have they been?" then with an, "Oi, another GTTP fundraiser!"

That being said, here are some things I've learned. No more Evites. Look, it's a great website, very convenient and fun, but I think we've all just gotten to a point where we get the Evite and even if we open the thing for details, we just don't respond. I mean, it's not like the planner can't see that you've viewed the Evite and yet, there's a lot of viewing but not responding. I think it's the same thing with Facebook events. I think, if I use either in the future it will be in addition to individual emails, or even, dare I say it, printed invitations!!! I know, that's just plain crazy talk.

I've also decided to switch tactics. Instead of planning fundraisers only a month or so in advance, I'm going with a well reasoned and well scheduled calendar of events. I think this will be better for GTTP, both for actual money being brought in and for budgetary planning reasons. I'm putting together a fundraising budget, how much we need, how many events we're planning, and what our targets are for attendance. That will hopefully allow us to have a more, well, targeted approach for all our events. Although we've had some planning in the past, it's definitely been more slapdash than what I'm aiming for in 2010.

And, the last thing I've learned this year about fundraising (heh, this sounds like one of those "What I Learned Last Summer" essays from elementary school), but I digress...a friend had a suggestion for me that I'm totally taking her up on. Are you ready? Here it is. Going To Tahiti Productions is no longer holding "fundraisers". That's right, you heard it here first. From here on out all we're doing is "Events". I know it seems like a silly change and maybe it's just semantics, but, gosh darnit, words have power and I think after so many Evites from me with the word "fundraiser" in the title, people just got tired of seeing it...not that those people have actually come to any of the events, but I've noticed that people still get very irritated about it: "why so many fundrasiers, Jess?"

So, I'm done with fundraisers. From here on out it's all just a series of "events that cost money." Genius, I tell you, frickin' GENIUS? :)

What if you threw a fundraiser and nobody came?

So we had a winetasting planned...and we were good to go next Saturday...and the place was affordable...and though it had a 20 person limit, I thought, "we can do this"...bring in some cash...really kick off the fall fundraising drive...yeah! I was psyched, psyched I tell you. I put together the Evite. I invited 128 people. I thought, "we can get 10 people to pay 60 bucks for a winetasting, no problem."

Well, actually...Big problem. I don't know if it's the economy or if it's the idea of a winetasting or maybe this is a time when people are travelling a lot? I don't know. I just know that there wasn't enough interest for folks to commit and it suddenly was not a financially viable fundraising idea so I had to cancel, :( which if you can't tell from the emoticon, makes me sad...

So, now what? Where does that leave us? Well, we're still aiming for an October fundraiser. Now we're focused on a Halloween Costume Party. Hopefully the price tag change from $60 to $10 will make a difference. I mean, come on, you go to a party and bring a bottle of wine or a 6 pack of decent beer and you're spending more then 10 bucks so hopefully people will be down for the fundraising aspect of it and we'll make some bank...even if it's just a little bank.

And, we're looking towards the next few months. I think November is out because it'll be so soon after the Halloween Party and then we're into Thanksgiving, but a Holiday Cookie Party in December? Well that might be some fun. Nothing too crazy-just picking a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and inviting people to come on by whenever they want during like a 4 hour period, roll out some cookies and bake them. Kids will be welcome. There will be wine for the grown ups and the brand new Kitched Aid I got for a wedding present can get some use...I figure people can pay $15-$20 and come away with a dozen cookies or so. We'll supply the dough and the oven and the wine and we'll have a nice afternoon holiday party...

So, hopefully that will bring in some bucks (again, we're not talking thousands of dollars but maybe a few hundred).

And, that should take us through the end of the year. I will say that with fundraising slowing to a crawl, we're looking at postponing the show a bit, which is a bummer, but I'd rather wait until we have the funds and do Dreamers of the Day in March or April or even early May, than rush it into production with one fifth of the budget we really need to make the show everything it could be.

Never fear, I'm bummed but not discouraged and I'm NOT giving up. This show, when we pull it off, is going to be FANTASTIC!!! And I am COMMITTED to making it everything I know it can be. Keep your fingers crossed that the money starts flowing. I'll keep everyone posted on progress as we go.

...AND WE HAVE A SHOW!!!!!

I have an announcement I have been ITCHING to make for about two months:
It's official - we have chosen a show. We have just finalized the agreement to do an adaptation of Mary Doria Russell's novel DREAMERS OF THE DAY!

This beautiful book is about a woman, Agnes Shanklin, who, after losing her family in the 1918 influenza epidemic, goes on the trip of a lifetime to Egypt and finds that her visit coincides with the 1921 Cairo Conference. "Arriving at the Semiramis Hotel just as the Peace Conference convenes, Agnes, with her plainspoken American opinions and a small, noisy dachshund named Rosie, enters into the company of the historic luminaries who will, in the space of a few days,...invent the nations of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan." As she says in the opening of the novel her "little story has become [our] history." And it's only through understanding her times, that we can start to get a grasp of our own.

What we're planning right now, is to adapt the novel into a one woman show. It is a story told completely from Agnes Shanklin's perspective so it's ripe for solo possibilities, but that could always change as we get into the meat of the adaptation - we'll see. We're planning to do a whole multi-media kind of thing with still and moving projections, music from the times, and hopefully some exciting, (but not too expensive) design elements to the set, costumes and props.


I have already begun work on the adaptation and there will probably be many posts of me fumbling around as I figure out how to make it work. You see, I've never done an adaptation of this nature. I'm excited (or as Little Red says "excited and scared") to jump into this challenge. I may have assistance in the adaptation and I may be throwing out questions here to get some help on specific issues that come up as I work - so as I post questions, if anyone's out there, I'd love to hear from you.

A word about Mary Doria Russell. If you have never read any of her novels - do so NOW! Hands down, she is one of the very best fiction writers out there right now. Though her books cross different genres and topics, they all share one very special trait, they are all beautifully, gracefully, movingly written. THE SPARROW, CHILDREN OF GOD, THREAD OF GRACE and DREAMERS OF THE DAY are 4 wonderful, amazing, powerful books and I am anxiously awaiting her next one. We are SO honored that Ms. Russell has given us permission to adapt her beautiful book - that she has trusted us with one of her babies. We will nurture it and care for Agnes' story as if it were our own and cannot wait to see the final product when we get it on its feet!

So, not so much a drive in...

Yup, the rain got us again. In fact, it rained all day on Friday, (and most of the night) so about 11am we decided to change the outdoor "drive-in" to an indoor "Tahiti Cinemas" night. We transformed the apartment into a little movie theater (15 seats to be exact - 6 on comfy couches). We hung up a screen (actually an old white sheet from my massage school days) and set up the back bedroom of our apartment as a concession stand. We ran Christmas lights along the "aisle" to the bathroom. And, just for the fun of it, I dressed in a whole 50's style to celebrate the heyday of the drive-in.

Unfortunately the rain and people's jobs kept the crowd small, but what the group lacked in size, they more than made up for in enthusiasm. It was great fun and definitely something we'll do again. It's nice to know that we can do it rain or shine. I think we're going to add the Movie night - whether outside or in - to our roster of Living Room Series Fundraisers. I do think that in the future we definitely need to find a way to insure that we get as close to the max number of people we can fit at these things as possible and that is something I'm still figuring out. But, I think the most important thing for us is to keep plugging away, not get discouraged and persevere. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was any theater company...

Drive In Fundraiser Countdown...

So, we're now within a week of the fundraiser and it's close enough to the date to check the 10 day report on weather.com. Right now it looks like we have clear skies until Friday, the day of the fundraiser, and then they're predicting a 30% chance of precipitation...It could be worse, and it's still early but if anyone out there has a special relationship with the weather gods, I'd appreciate you putting in a good word for GTTP and our attempts to bring in some funds for our next production.

Also, Steph and I had a meeting with this wonderful little restaurant/wine shop in the East Village and we're about 75% sure we're going to do our winetasting fundraiser on October 10th. If it works the way we're planning, it'll be a great afternoon. It will start around 2pm and there will be 8 or 9 wines to try, all with a selection of bread, cheese, meats and bruschetta/salads. John and I went to a winetasting fundraiser at this same place a year and a half ago and it was a great day all around. Hopefully the GTTP winetasting will be similarly great. As soon as the papers are signed and we're definitely a go, I'll send out emails/invitations/facebook posts...but in the meantime, keep October 10th free.

To Recap:

If the Drive-In goes well and the winetasting happens, we'll have about 20% of our next show's budget in the bank and we'll be heading in to the fall/winter in really good shape.