Videos I Want to Share

I spent a lot of today on my own work, sussing some things out, brainstorming, and watching a lot of TED talks (which wasn't part of the original plan, but awesome nonetheless). Here are some of my favorites. The third one down is imperative. It's so good.

Seth Godin on the tribes we lead | Video on TED.com

Amber Case: We are all cyborgs now | Video on TED.com

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Another non-TED video that is shorter and just as important. This whole website (aid on the edge) is pretty fascinating:

We Need Balance

And a couple that are more directly about theatre:

Stage Matters

Ben Cameron: The true power of the performing arts | Video on TED.com

Watch them if you have time

Share thoughts if you watch them :)

My First Directing Project in DC

Because I am co-producing the Naomi Wallace Festival I get to direct a piece in it!

One of the plays we are producing a reading of is called Fever Chart and it is a series of three "visions." The other producer of the festival and I are splitting them up and I'm directing Vision 2. I'm excited.

More information on that when it gets into full swing!

Hey 2011 - I'm a Producer Now

So I have had a gap in my season from December - March for some time and I wasn't actively fighting to fill it. I figured it would give me a little time to adjust to living in a city (I still haven't really taken time to do that) and work on my own projects.

Fortunately I keep finding things to do.

I am co-producing a Festival!

I had a meeting with Michael (artistic director at Forum where I am a company member) and told him I would like to shadow him a bit and learn more about producing. Instead, he made me co-producer of a festival I didn't even know that they were planning. They want to do a festival of Naomi Wallace's plays to lead up to the opening of One Flea Spare by Naomi Wallace. I said "okay!"

First, we had to secure venues. I was co-producing with another guy who hadn't produced a festival and wasn't involved with Forum, but had been around in DC longer and knew a lot more people and venues, which was great. They wanted to do the festival for free so we were trying to find free venues, which was really difficult. People love to not reply.

Venues were a pain, but we eventually secured them.

Then the company choose 2 directors and then let us direct the 3rd play together. We each paired up with one of the directors and became the primary producer for that show. I had secured rehearsal space for my director as well as actors. He let me know who he would like and I contact them. He also bounces ideas for casting off of me (which I'm not much help with since I don't know them, but I usually find a way to field the question to someone else and still get back to him with something useful.)

Anyway - so I'm learning to produce. It's good. Lots more to it than I described, but if you want to learn about it - ask.

Always Stay For the Party

After the experimental theatre piece I described below (it was called Euphoria) there was a party (that was kind of still part of the performance, but you didn't HAVE to stay). I didn't want to stay. I wasn't in the mood. But I did. And I'm glad.

I got to know some of the cast better and made some friends I still see. Plus, I did some networking. The other assistant director for the show and I had become good friends - he just graduated from the directing program at NCSA. There is quite an NCSA mafia in DC - they even have their own production company (No Rules) that takes their productions back to NC and then up to DC. They're blossoming pretty quickly and doing exciting work.

So new ncsa friend introduced me to their artistic director and production manager. I had contacted their production manager back in September with my resume because the LD for Scorched had suggested that I assist him. (He is also a local Lighting Designer). We had talked about meeting, but it hadn't worked out and then out conversations kind of petered out. I had also sent my resume to No Rules as a designer.

So I had a decent conversation with the Artistic Director about devised work and it's relation to Euphoria and their company. I introduced myself to the Production Manager and told him of our email plight, which he soon remembered and apologized profusely. We said we would catch up soon.

I emailed him the next day asking when he was free for coffee. We set something up

The morning of our meeting my parents were in town to take me home for Christmas and I was so tempted to cancel because I just wanted to go home, but I didn't. We had coffee. I made sure I had a clean copy of my resume and had pulled favorite images onto my computer from the internet (the cafe didnt have wifi) in case he asked to see any.

Note: If you bring images make sure you have something specific to already say about them, don't just wait for questions. Have it already planned, or you will fumble.

I am now assisting him on his next show (which is actually at Forum, which is great because I had already asked the company to assist whoever ended up designing that show). He also offered me a paid job board oping and programming for No Rules next production, which conflicted with the ALDing so I couldn't take it. PLUS he said he'd check out my portfolio and consider me for a future project at No Rules as a designer.

Awesome.

So always stay for parties. Don't give up on people you really want to meet. And always go to meeting you don't feel like going to.

The Day Job Debate

This is just a sidenote:

I am very grateful for my day job. I am able to take jobs I couldn't take otherwise (because they don't pay). I was talking to a friend today and told him I went to NYC last weekend to check out the Under the Radar festival and he asked if someone sent me or if I paid for it and I told him I paid for it. He asked how? I have a day job as a nanny. No one makes fun of you for that. He was jealous. He works in theatre, does a lot of work he doesn't want, doesn't have time to skip town for a festival he wanted to see, and doesn't have the extra cash to do it. A stable day job is a really great thing to have when you're first getting out there. Sure, it restricts you sometimes, but it also offers you some great freedoms.

Finishing Up 2010 - It's All In The Timing

So I haven't posted on this thing in awhile. A lot of things have happened that I am not going to chronicle. I'm a little less focused on theatre, but I'll catch you up on what I have been doing in the vein since October...

1. Associate Designer for A Broadway Christmas Carol. I sent an email with my resume and a link to my portfolio on my website to a local designer and he just happened to need some help on a show coming up. He didn't ask to meet me or anything, but offered me $200 to help him out of the show. The biggest lesson I have learned is everything really is all a matter of timing. He needed someone - I emailed him at that time. It's the same way in some of the opposite situations. You email people, but they don't need any help so they may not even reply.

Anyway, He was going to miss 6 hours of one of the days of tech so he offered to make me his associate instead of assistant. The show was a campy musical, rewriting famous Broadway songs lyrics to tell the story of a Christmas carol and the theatre had an Express (Theatre II board). So I considered saying no because I didn't want to get in over my head and slow down tech, but then I just went for it. And it was awesome. Brian, the designer, is awesome and laid back. The process was relatively smooth. The show was written before he left tech so I just got to play a little, finness, and fix notes from the director. One day when we didn't have much to do before a preview Brian sat down with me and gave me feedback on my website. Overall it was a great experience and I got PAID to do what I want to do.

2. The Artistic Director of Artists Bloc (an artist collective in DC I'm a member of) emailed me and asked me if I'd like to help out on a workshop production of a "promenade performance/installation/party/Happening" (as he phrased it) that they were in the process of creating. It would not pay anything, but great people were attached and it was unlike anything that was going on in DC that I had seen so far. So obviously I said yes. We spent a week on the project. The 'creative team' (5 of us - director, writer, scenography (she's from Georgia... the country), and 2 of us assistants) set up the space and scavenged the theatre for props and things, creating as we went. Then we spent the weekend in the Kennedy Center rehearsing the piece with 30ish volunteer actors. We did one dress rehearsal was a very small audience and then another with a larger invited audience. It was a really exciting process - the kind of work I want to do - and I met a lot of really great people. It was great! I'm not sure how I got this opportunity. I met the director briefly when I became a member of Artists Bloc and ran into him at Broadway Christmas Carol (he is also a photographer). He knew I was interested in creating new work for Artists Bloc so perhaps that's why he asked me.

3. Then. I went home for the holidays for a week. I was offered crew sub ins (one backstage, one sound op, and one light op) for a couple of shows during the holidays, but it was really important to me to be able to go home so I said no.

Lesson I learned in the last few days of 2010:

See Theatre.

It's so hard to do because we're always DOING theatre and there's no time to SEE theatre.

But do it as often as you can.

You learn about your craft

You learn about who you want to work with and what theatres you want to work in

You meet people

You get your face known around the local theatres

You have something to talk to people about (or a source of flattery) when you want to work with them. (I saw your design of this show.. blahblah)

But most importantly

you learn about the work. we should be constantly learning about the work

A Turning Point, A Revamp, A Purpose

DISCLAIMER: This post is not really part of my chronicling of my theatre work since graduation. It is my turning point. As for what I've been doing: Tech is this weekend for the show I am associate designing. I am pumped about that. I just finished working on Ameriville - the group is a touring group (Universes) and they just left. They'll be in NYC at The Public Theatre in January and if you're around you must see them. I'll be making a trip up mid-January. I just got my paycheck for the AD position I am doing at Folger in March. We are having our first read for designers on Monday (the show opens in April). I'm ready to create new work.

NOW For the Disclaimed:

If you've been reading or speaking to me lately you know I've been struggling with purpose, with being relatively successful and not feeling successful. I had chocked it up to still needing to adjust, but a lot of recent events, which I can go into later have led to a reevaluation and now I am lit up. I feel like I am on fire because I am so excited. I have been wrong for the last 22 years and it feels so good to know that. I have a purpose for my life and, therefore, for my work.

So I wrote what I started calling a "manifesto" today because I was overwhelmed. It's long. You don't have to read it. It's summarized in 12 points at the end if you're only interested in that. If you're super religious don't read the God part - it is not meant to offend, but rather to explain part of why I know humanity is so important. I love it. I am tingling.

Creating a World of Simple Superheroes

Manifesto: a public declaration of principles and intentions, and of the theories and directions of a movement.

The World or America as part of The World:

The world is made up of people.

People are the most important thing. What connection is more fulfilling or true or alive?

We are currently severely alienated and disconnected from each other as humans.

We live behind walls, work, crossed arms, screens, and headphones.

Technology is becoming the primary mode of connection. How do we feel more connected to someone we just sent an abbreviated text to than the people in the room around us? We allow that to happen.

We are sometimes unsure if we even really know those closest to us

Those that do feel connected to those closest to them often don’t consider acquaintances or people they may never meet.

Events (and the people they affect) that are not in our near vicinity do not matter.

We value material things, power, employment, status, art, and work over people.

Our society, our government, our religions foster fear.

The statistics are astonishing. Divorce, unemployment, homelessness.

Illness has taken over our people. Everyone seems to be on some kind of medication and most of them are treating (or not treating) depression.

Humanity has become lost in a world it created.

“Not my problem.”

The world is made up of good people who are not all the way awake.

These people are so smart and able to change.

We are small. We know it, we can feel it, we can see it. We don’t know what the bigger thing is. We want it to be something we can actually grasp onto without feeling lost in our smallness. Humanity is the huge web that we are small within. Humanity is tangible. You can touch the little strings of the whole and the whole is affected. We are small, but we are powerful.

Because of the basic tenets of humanity this society has created a world that is difficult to live in. So people are ready for change.

Humans

With all our differences, when boiled down to our very cores we are all humans. We are all connected under humanity. We want the same very basic thing: we want to be wanted, needed. We have the same basic emotions. We know what tears feel like when we see them on another person's cheek.

Humans are, at their cores, good.

We are constantly progressing. We are so smart. We are quick. We are driven. We are kind.

Too many humans feel like they are suffering.

Some humans are truly suffering. (Picture of a young girl in Africa with the vulture behind her, tragedy victims, etc.)

We are unaware of our fellow humans, their plights, their humanity.

If we are aware we think we cannot help or choose not to. Everything is too big.

We label people as different from ourselves for a thousand different reasons.

All human negativity is driven by loneliness and/or fear. Insecurity is a form of fear. Our current society is fostering a sort of widespread loneliness that is detrimental to its people.

“If I see a person talking on the phone I want to know what that conversation is.” They are crying because there is no warmth besides the heat created from their phone battery against their wet face.

People are not bad; most of us are just not fully awake and may stay in an early morning haze our entire lives. Early morning hazes can be refreshing. They can also waste the rest of the day if we don’t move into the full heat of the afternoon.

We are a product of our society. Society is our product created over time. It is an endless chicken and egg cycle that we have the ability to change. People are ready for the heat. (I typo-ed this as heart the first time...)

Religion

Some force kicked the world into motion, call it God if you like. I believe in God. I do not believe in a "religion." Religions were created by men because of a fear caused by not knowing what the force, God, was. I cannot believe because why would God divide us into so many different sects that call each other wrong? That damn each other? That damn their own for being the way they were born or for doing things that make them happy and do not harm others?

The world is good. God must be good. This God religions have created is not and so, for me, cannot exist.

People created rules and images they could hold onto in order to not be afraid of what God might be. If there is a God that cares about our actions, we are not alone. If there is a God with rules that lead to some sort of reward then there is purpose in life. I do not blame people for giving themselves this structure to feel safe within and truly do not wish to tear it from them. But this safety people fabricate in religion actually exists in humanity. If we give ourselves to each other, we are not alone. When we are in communion with humanity, we are in communion with the world and the force that created it. Fight for humanity. You will live in salvation rather than wait for it. And what God would not love you for being good to people?

I believe in a force bigger than myself. I believe in a God. I do not believe in a religion. I believe in humanity. And I believe in fighting for them, not damning them. God does not need us, but we sure as hell need each other.

Living for Humanity

We have to engage in the world immediately around us. We have to be aware. We have to care. We have to be critical. We have to improve. We have to love. We have to respond.

We have to find ways to dissolve our fear of openness and vulnerability. We have to embrace kindness, openness, and each other. It is absolutely necessary to tear walls down and take headphones out. It is impossible to foster community with crossed arms. If you are not open and comfortable, no one will feel comfortable being open with you and that connection is what we want. What we need. Be someone people want to be around. That is the beginning of the revolution.

We have to take care of each other. We are completely responsible for each other, for the people we see every day, for the people we will never see.

What would it be like to know someone else (whether they could or not) wanted to fight your fight. A friend, a stranger. I want to fight your fight. We have to invest in each other's happiness.

We must be genuinely curious about the people around us. We must engage wholly with people. We must become aware of ourselves and the situation humanity is in. This awareness then must feed into a fight, a revolution. We must challenge the state we are in.

Who will be there if a disaster strikes at this second? Do you know the people around you? How did you just treat them? Do you know your neighbors, your community, your friends, your family? What suffering human body is draped over the Plexiglass box you live in?

Things that are fulfilling. things we need. things we can provide:

Fostering ensembles/communities
Taking Risks
Exploding with hope
Provoking a discussion
Creating a smile
Warmth
Security
Inspiring change and hope
Simple positivity
Genuine engaged listening
Working together
Touch

The Theatre I Want:


“Why do you do theatre?”
“Because it is important. Because it is powerful”
And now I know how this thing I have always said can be, and is, actually true.

Theatre is a platform with creative juices that make it less dull, less intimidating than a podium with a microphone. It is a forum for change. It can be anything and it has an audience.

But it is not a soapbox. After 22 years a succession of experiences over 6 months with a significant 1 week climax led to my “revelation.” We cannot force these findings on audiences. We must only plant the seed and reinforce with dialogue.

This theatre must be accessible.
This theatre is not art for art’s sake.
This theatre does not have rules about form or structure
This theatre must challenge, move, and respond honestly
This theatre must be followed by talk back sessions
This theatre must be created by a multidisciplinary ensemble

This theatre must:
engage it’s artists in their world and community.
respond to our situation and people with brutal honesty and genuine hope
support community and provide hope
foster human connection
relieve the suffocation
reach people on a visceral level

This theatre should help people:

Wake up
Want to be engaged in their community
Feel responsible for each other
Actively hope for (and with) humanity.

Me

I feel powerful. I am smart. I am driven. I am aware. I am young. I am exploding with hope. I am supposed to do this and I can. I am on fire. I cannot do it myself, but I can fuel it.

Theatre is what I (or we, depending on who you are) do. I should use what I know and love to spread the truth I believe, start the discussions, provoke change, and promote hope. I am young. I am small, but not in an insignificant way. I can shake the web.

Simple Superheroics in 12 Points

1. People are the most important thing.

2. We are each a small part of the whole of humanity.

3. Humanity is tangible. We can affect the whole by touching just one. Humanity ripples because we are all connected.

4. As different as we all think we are from one another, are are all humans and at our cores we want the same basic things and feel the same basic emotions.

5. People are good.

6. All human negativity is either based in loneliness or fear.

7. Our society, and we, as part of it, has somehow driven out human connection and degraded the importance of community, often replacing it with technology.

8. Currently much of our world is therefore fostering loneliness and capitalizing on fear. This has created unhappiness, but also a readiness (if only subconsciously) of people for change.

9. We, as humans who are a piece of the whole of humanity, are responsible for each other.

10. We must take care of each other. To do this we must engage wholly in our immediate world and with the people around us. We must be aware, we must respond, we must discuss, we must challenge, and we must care. We must want to fight each other’s fights.

11.Hope is not passive. We must explode with hope for humanity.

12. As an artist I must use my forum to respond to our situation. I must create work that is critical, challenging, and hopeful in order to provoke discussion and, ultimately, change. The timing is right; people are ready.

This is essential.

ThThank you to my family, Universes, Carmen, Scorched, Spinoza, and good people for incredible inspiration. And Brandon, for the title :)