Green Light

Narrows Community Theater of Bayridge Brooklyn is producing my latest Full-Length play SPOILED CHERRIES.

I didn't intend to be working on a show so close to my return, especially with my thesis paper due at the end of next month and now having a full time job - but I couldn't be more excited.

Time to roll up my sleeves and get to work...

So Much to Say..............No Time to Say It

I want to talk about the old drunk guy who wears really short shorts and sings Frank Sinatra songs at karaoke - the beggar on the train I got into a fight with because his begging was interrupting my conversation - the fact that all of the sudden GT is a teenage heart throb, which keeps me up at night with laughter - the horrible off B'way shows I have been seeing - the loud lady with the Peg Bundy hair and shoulder pads who rides the same train I do every morning - the missing of Dustin Hoffman's call at work because I just had to go get a bagel - the hopelessness I feel about ever becoming a full-time playwright / director - the excitement about the British invasion (HR2) coming to town for 2 whole weeks! - GT's new role as Producer and how supportive he's been - the cashier at Starbucks who says please go online and fill out a form so they don't shut us down and thinking how ironic that was - the 'Oh yea? Why don't you go blog about it' wise cracks I get from the metal head version of Justin Timberlake that has become GT - the many BQ's I have been to this summer and how everyone has a different idea of what a barbeque is, here's a hint, if it's catered from an Italian restaurant, it ain't a barbeque, it's just eating outside - and how I have no idea what happens from here....

Past a smll hump

So much has happened since I returned home form living abroad. I recently turned 26 and have officially crossed over to the other side of 'past a quarter of a century old.' My 25th year of life was a real adventure marked with a lot of development not just personal but as a playwright I think maybe I get it.
I wrote this new play - well I started it at 23 years old and wrote a version that was an all over mess, a total picture of what not to do. Then I started my master program at City Uni and for the first time I was forced to read and see as many plays as possible. Before this I had only studied screenwriting. But I began to take up this failed play of mine and start over. - I couldn't loose the theme, or the main characters because it was something I had to put down. I tried moving on to other work but for some reason I couldn't let this play go. I let GT read it because he's honest, especially about my plays. For the first time he read it in one sitting and actually liked it. He had two notes which were to add a scene I had thought I needed as well. Suddenly with a little bit more fine combing I have to say I'm actually glad I didn't give up on this piece.

GT liked it so much he's got it a possible home, with me attached to direct. Though I'm always weary about a full production Right after the ink is hardly dried I think actually this is a long time coming - for this play (SPOILED CHERRIES). SO he sent it to actors and the theater Board he's on and the response is really positive . I know I shouldn't be surprised but something in the back of my head was starting to think maybe I'm in the wrong place. Well, not me but my chances. It's not so much getting a production so fast for a script (that's just finished) is the responses form the readers... My last plays I had to beg people to maybe take a look and weeks, months later I'd get a shrug. This time it was a day turn around. I don't know what that means but I suppose that's good.

Red Light / Green Light

GT is on his way over to the meeting, with his laptop in hand so he can show them the budget. It's already been approved by the President of the group but now it's on to the board for the final say.

If they approve my director's fee and royalties (for the use of my play) then it's a go and auditions will be in a week. If not? Then I'm sad to say I'll have to decline the offer.

I'm not doing this because I'm a bored house wife or an elderly person with time on my hands. I'm 26 now (as of Wed) and I'm determined to get it right. I'm enjoying my day job but ultimately I want to be the client, not the agents assistant. The only way to do that is to just go for it, understand your worth and stick to your guns. That's how it's done. I mean, luck helps but you can't plan for it or ask it to come along and take over.

So for now I'm at the yellow light, not full stop but I'll pause and see what's on the table.