New Jerusalem: How I got my first theatre job.

As I said in "Why DC" APO organized a trip to see both part of Angels in America at Forum Theatre in DC. Michael, the artistic director, had directed Perestroika, but Millenium had been directed by a different director, Jeremy Skidmore. I was particularly struck by the direction of Millenium. I looked Jeremy up, found his website, and then emailed Michael.

I told Michael that I really enjoyed Angels, was pretty sold on DC, and would love to get involved at Forum in any way possible. I also asked if he could put me in contact with Jeremy because I had seen on his website he was doing more work in the area and he may need an assistant or let me observe. This was November 24.

Michael replied on March 11. He said I could send him my information to apply for their internship at Forum if I was interested. If I wasn't interested, but was going to be in DC I should let him know how he could help. And he forwarded my email to Jeremy.

Jeremy sent me an email looking for an AD on a project at Theater J in May. He suggested we meet and "see if we were a good fit."

We had lunch April 6.

He was great.

David Ives is the author of the play and since this was the second production of the play (the first outside NYC) he would be coming to first read and first preview.

I blabbed about my interest in devising.

When lunch was over he told me he had to talk to a few other people and then he'd let me know either way.

I forgot it was an interview, because he said we were meeting to chat and I freaked out because I hadn't really sold myself.

I sent him a thank you email and blathered on about how I was actually qualified for the position.

He did not reply.

On May 1st I didn't know what to do because I had other offers that wanted to know my decision. For some reason I was really set on this unpaid AD position though and I hadn't heard from Jeremy. I emailed him telling him I had another offer, but would rather assist him so did he know when he will have made his decision. He offered it to me 4 hours later.

So ask. Ask. Ask again. But be kind.

The first rehearsal was May 25.

New Jerusalem being my first professional theatre experience was the best thing that could have ever happened. It was a team of extremely talented and gracious people. There was not an ego in the room and everyone involved could have understandably had one the height of the pews onstage. I learned about technical directing things like shaping, but more I learned that it's important to protect the people you work with. At school professors (and so, students) in production meetings would constantly cut at each other, subtly or overtly, and I figured that was just a byproduct of the 'insecurities' of being a theatre person. Not true. People can be good to each other, even in this business, and it's really perfect.

More on New Jerusalem lessons later... I'm half starting a bunch of posts apparently.