Today Intiman Theatre made a sad announcement. After the last performance of All My Sons tomorrow, they will cancel the rest of their 2011 season and let go all of their employees until further notice. (See the Seattle Times article here.) This news makes my heart hurt. However, they are canceling their season with an eye on the future. Instead of pushing through with the 2011 season and maybe not making it after all, they will use 2011 to regroup and hopefully rebuild. I really hope they will come back and continue to produce the caliber of work they have been. My heart goes go to all the valiant employees, artists, technicians, designers, ticket office workers, concessions workers etc etc etc of Intiman Theatre. Thank you for giving me my first job in Seattle, my first opportunity to work in a professional theatre and a Tony Award winning one at that. I'm pulling for you.
This has been a rough month for the Seattle arts community. With the recent deaths of well-loved Seattle actor Mark Chamberlin and arts champion/leader Melissa Hines, I can feel Seattle artists reeling. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet either of these amazing individuals, the effects of their deaths on my colleagues has been palpable. I am saddened by these losses.
I am also scared for what all this turmoil means for Seattle's artistic future. I am beyond confident in the abilities of my colleagues, friends, fellow artists, and theatres in town to continue to uphold the artistic standards they have set and have encouraged me to try to achieve as well. I am more worried about our support. Whenever one theatre hits a bump in the road, people tend to worry about the future of all theatres. This is the time when, most commonly, supporters spook and pull away from the arts community.
But, this is the exact moment when I, with my whole heart, will encourage you (arts supporter) not to spook. It is only by your support and arts organizations supporting each other that the arts community will continue to stay strong and provide the over-arching community with evocative, creative, and world changing art. I cannot lie, many of us arts professionals are a little bit scared. The crashing state and government budgets which include slashes to the arts funding is terrifying. But despite it all, many organizations are doing exactly what they can to continue to provide our community the necessary and vital arts programs.
Seattle, look around you. Look at the art that is being done in your backyard. Downtown to Renton, Issaquah, Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, there is art being done everywhere by big theatres, medium theatres, collaborative groups and even individuals. We often think of the big theatres first (ACT, Seattle Rep, Village Theatre, 5th Ave - who all do fantastic work) but it is important to remember that art comes in all shapes and sizes. Seattle Shakespeare Company, Annex Theatre, New Century Theatre Company, Shady Lane Productions, Theatre Off Jackson, Open Circle Theatre, and Northwest Playwrights Alliance are all working long, hard, low paying hours, and sometimes no paying hours, to create art for you. And yes, the big theatres are also working those long, hard, low/no paying hours as well. (I am still relatively new to Seattle so those are just some of the theatres I can think of right off the top of my head.) Of course, I have mention Book-It Repertory Theatre as well, as I work there and am constantly in awe of the passion and talent of my co-workers and quality of work that our theatre puts out. Realistically, however, I have a vested interest in all arts organizations. As a playwright, actor, and fledgling director every theatre I see is a new opportunity. And every person involved in that theatre is a colleague and an inspiration. I am pulling for every single one.
None of these theatres can survive without your support. More importantly, none of these theatre artists can survive without your support. And they certainly can't survive without their art.
After all that, I must also take a moment to thank the Seattle community for the support they already give the arts and their artists. For a recent college grad, it has been inspiring. And thank you, Seattle artists, for showing me what great art can look like.
You're continued support means the world to us. Really.
In fact, it means life to us.
4.16.2011
4.10.2011
Conquering my fears.
Today I did my first audition in over a year. It was for Balagan Theatre, their general auditions. I must say it was terrifying but I am proud of myself. Before I left Western Washington University, I had some experiences that really made me question whether or not I could and should continue acting. After much agonizing, I realized (as I do over and over again and probably will again and again) that it only matters what I want to do, what I'm driven to do. It does not matter what anyone else thinks I should do. The essence of the message I was getting from certain educators was that I had to choose; do I consider myself a writer or an actor?
The answer?
Both. Always and forever both.
Still, after a year I was a little out of practice. So my motto for this audition was "Have fun. Don't fuck it up." I believe with that as my goal, I was successful! Like I said, I'm proud of myself. And that's all that matters.
The answer?
Both. Always and forever both.
Still, after a year I was a little out of practice. So my motto for this audition was "Have fun. Don't fuck it up." I believe with that as my goal, I was successful! Like I said, I'm proud of myself. And that's all that matters.
3.31.2011
So I'm a little lax.
If you are still checking this blog...and that's a big if...you'll notice I haven't blogged in about a month and a half. It's not that nothing is going on. I guess it's just because I haven't thought about it much. So quick recap:
- A group of lady friends and I are working on putting together a showcase of my work. We don't know when/where/how it will happen but it will happen. And since it is a showcase of my work, I have get writing. In fact, I should be doing that now instead of writing this blog.
- March submission: completed. Just under the wire.
- I will be directing a new ten minute play at ACT in April (thanks to the suggestion of my lovely and talented friend Dayo Anderson). It's part of a New Playwrights Competition for high school students. I'm excited to work with a new young playwright. The next challenge: casting 8ish people. Anybody? Anybody?
So that's my quick update. I'm going to try and update more often. Try.
- A group of lady friends and I are working on putting together a showcase of my work. We don't know when/where/how it will happen but it will happen. And since it is a showcase of my work, I have get writing. In fact, I should be doing that now instead of writing this blog.
- March submission: completed. Just under the wire.
- I will be directing a new ten minute play at ACT in April (thanks to the suggestion of my lovely and talented friend Dayo Anderson). It's part of a New Playwrights Competition for high school students. I'm excited to work with a new young playwright. The next challenge: casting 8ish people. Anybody? Anybody?
So that's my quick update. I'm going to try and update more often. Try.
2.15.2011
Taking Steps
February submission: completed!
This time it was a poetry submission to a literary magazine.
Alright folks, I'm two for two here. I must admit I had to push myself to do this one for February. The only things I have "ready" that haven't been published or produced before is poetry. At least for plays, the produced stipulation is the one that gets me. Because, of course, what I have that would be ready to send somewhere has been produced before. That's what makes it the most ready to be submitted. Oh well, my poetry should be submitted as well. Plus, it's been awhile since I've written poetry and hopefully this will inspire me to continue with that aspect of my writing.
I also finally began my novel this weekend. It is already at a stalemate but it has been started which I must admit is a feat. I've been noodling on it for years now but every time I sit down to write, the idea of a novel scares me. I'm so used to writing purely dialogue and/or poetry that I am quickly discovering I have a lot of growth to do in the area of description.
At the very least, writing is happening!
This time it was a poetry submission to a literary magazine.
Alright folks, I'm two for two here. I must admit I had to push myself to do this one for February. The only things I have "ready" that haven't been published or produced before is poetry. At least for plays, the produced stipulation is the one that gets me. Because, of course, what I have that would be ready to send somewhere has been produced before. That's what makes it the most ready to be submitted. Oh well, my poetry should be submitted as well. Plus, it's been awhile since I've written poetry and hopefully this will inspire me to continue with that aspect of my writing.
I also finally began my novel this weekend. It is already at a stalemate but it has been started which I must admit is a feat. I've been noodling on it for years now but every time I sit down to write, the idea of a novel scares me. I'm so used to writing purely dialogue and/or poetry that I am quickly discovering I have a lot of growth to do in the area of description.
At the very least, writing is happening!
2.02.2011
1.31.2011
What I'm currently reading.
Taking a cue from Dennis Schebetta (If you don't read his blog, you definitely should. especially if you are working or want to work on a solo play.) I'm going to start recording what I'm reading. Because as he reminds us, what you are reading informs what you are writing. Plus, who better to learn from than already published authors?
So, what am I reading?
Well, I should be reading Great Expectations as it is the nice play coming up at Book-It. So, in theory, that's what I am reading. And I am...sort of. It stays in my purse and I pick it up now and then. I read most of it in college so it's really just playing catch up. I'll get there, but it is slow going.
What has really been on my mind lately is Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. So far, it's incredibly insightful. I tend to really like books like this. There is something about an established writer encouraging a young, up-and-coming, struggling writer that is comforting to me. (That is also one of the reasons why I think Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith is a must have on any theatre artist's bookshelf.) No, I don't always agree with the advice given in these contexts but it is important to me to see how a person got to their advice. Their journeys are just as important to me as my own. We are interconnected by the simple nature of the craft. And I can always learn from a journey.
Next up: Wrecks and Other Plays by Neil LaBute. I must admit that Neil LaBute occupies a lot of space on my shelf. It is not always because I like his plays (Reasons to be Pretty, c'mon!) but because I relate to his style. And this book is some of his solo work so I'm interested to see how he approaches that.
So, what am I reading?
Well, I should be reading Great Expectations as it is the nice play coming up at Book-It. So, in theory, that's what I am reading. And I am...sort of. It stays in my purse and I pick it up now and then. I read most of it in college so it's really just playing catch up. I'll get there, but it is slow going.
What has really been on my mind lately is Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. So far, it's incredibly insightful. I tend to really like books like this. There is something about an established writer encouraging a young, up-and-coming, struggling writer that is comforting to me. (That is also one of the reasons why I think Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith is a must have on any theatre artist's bookshelf.) No, I don't always agree with the advice given in these contexts but it is important to me to see how a person got to their advice. Their journeys are just as important to me as my own. We are interconnected by the simple nature of the craft. And I can always learn from a journey.
Next up: Wrecks and Other Plays by Neil LaBute. I must admit that Neil LaBute occupies a lot of space on my shelf. It is not always because I like his plays (Reasons to be Pretty, c'mon!) but because I relate to his style. And this book is some of his solo work so I'm interested to see how he approaches that.
The Apartment Series
I have a lot of blogging to catch up, it appears. So today: there will be two blog posts. And then...well you know how this goes.
You know that reading I keep saying I was going to throw in my house? The one I bought music stands for? Well, I finally did it! The Apartment Series: Brunch and a Reading, the first in the series happened on January 23rd. From now on, the plan is to have one at least once a month. Realistically, I'd like it to be salon style. I really want The Apartment Series to be an open forum for my artistic friends to come together and feed some need. Most of us work, probably too much and (I think) have been having a hard time finding a creative outlet. So that's what this is. Plus, it'll give me a chance to flex my hostess muscles and my cooking skills.
I'd say this first reading was successful. Small but mighty. There were about five people (excluding me) total for brunch. I think to be entirely successful for readings and what not, ten people would be a good number. This time it didn't matter because the play that was being read (one of mine) is in too early of a stage for a feedback session. I didn't think at this point in the play's development, feedback was going to be helpful to my process. But what was helpful to my process was simply being around my lovely and creative compatriots. Plus, to get to both share my work and act in the reading was a breath of fresh air.
The event in the series will be a dinner. I have a hankering to make lasagna. I'm not sure if I'll have anything to read for this one but we'll read something. That's really the important thing.
In other news: I have successfully submitted two things for January: a play to a festival in Seattle and a poem to a literary magazine at WWU. Now to search for contests, literary magazines, theatres and what have you for the month of February. It keeps me writing, that's for sure.
And when I write, I feel like I breathe easier.
You know that reading I keep saying I was going to throw in my house? The one I bought music stands for? Well, I finally did it! The Apartment Series: Brunch and a Reading, the first in the series happened on January 23rd. From now on, the plan is to have one at least once a month. Realistically, I'd like it to be salon style. I really want The Apartment Series to be an open forum for my artistic friends to come together and feed some need. Most of us work, probably too much and (I think) have been having a hard time finding a creative outlet. So that's what this is. Plus, it'll give me a chance to flex my hostess muscles and my cooking skills.
I'd say this first reading was successful. Small but mighty. There were about five people (excluding me) total for brunch. I think to be entirely successful for readings and what not, ten people would be a good number. This time it didn't matter because the play that was being read (one of mine) is in too early of a stage for a feedback session. I didn't think at this point in the play's development, feedback was going to be helpful to my process. But what was helpful to my process was simply being around my lovely and creative compatriots. Plus, to get to both share my work and act in the reading was a breath of fresh air.
The event in the series will be a dinner. I have a hankering to make lasagna. I'm not sure if I'll have anything to read for this one but we'll read something. That's really the important thing.
In other news: I have successfully submitted two things for January: a play to a festival in Seattle and a poem to a literary magazine at WWU. Now to search for contests, literary magazines, theatres and what have you for the month of February. It keeps me writing, that's for sure.
And when I write, I feel like I breathe easier.
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