Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Shameless Self-Promotion: What are you doing this weekend?

As I told you back in September, the writers group I'm a member of is putting on a month-long festival of new works in Jan-Feb 2009 (we're calling it the InGenius Festival--Voices from the Writers' Forum). All Forum writers were invited to submit scripts for consideration and the Source's artistic director made the final selections of what to produce. I am proud to say that a one-act of mine, "What We Planned For," was chosen. It will be part of "PlayGround Series C," performing Feb 2-4 (Mon-Wed) at 8pm. Tickets ($15) and other info can be found here: http://www.theatresource.org/

But wait, didn't I say something about this weekend? I did indeed.

Because we are serving as the producers of the Festival, that means we have to come up with the $$--not just for the theatre space, but for rehearsal space (for 16 shows!), props, costumes, etc. So, as a fundraising event, this weekend we are doing a very special "Spontaneous Combustion"--We Write, Rehearse, Tech & Perform an evening of 4-8 minute plays in just 48 Hours! Performances are Sun-Tue Nov 23-25 @ $8pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here.

Here's how Spontaneous works:
  • Teams of writers and actors receive a first line and a cultural reference.
  • Writers write a short play Friday night.
  • Actors rehearse Saturday Day, and
  • The show goes up Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights.
Wine & beer will be available pre-show and we plan to have musical entertainment starting each evening at 7pm.

Finally, to pad the coffers a bit more, we are also doing a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $1 each and the drawing will take place on November 30 (you do not need to be present to win). You can see me for tickets or buy them at the theatre.

So, if you're planning to be in the city this Sun, Mon or Tue (or need an excuse to come to the city), here it is.

Hope to see you there!


Summary of the Important Info:
What: Spontaneous Combustion
When: Sun-Tue, Nov 23-25 @ 8pm (pre-show entertainment starts at 7pm)
Where: Manhattan Theatre Source, 177 MacDougal (http://www.theatresource.org)
How much: $15 (can purchase tickets at: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/632685)

What: InGenius Festival
When: Jan 6-Feb 4, 2009 (my piece is part of "Series C" performing Feb 2-4)
Where: Manhattan Theatre Source, 177 MacDougal (http://www.theatresource.org)
How much: Full-length productions $18, Evenings of one-acts $15 (can purchase tickets at: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/931/1230858000000)

What: 50/50 Raffle
When: Now until November 30th
Where: See me or come to the theatre
How much: $1 per ticket

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Words of the Day

Irony = having your biggest WW setback after going out to a microbrewery with one of the people who inspired me to join the cult in the first place

Coincidence = getting the e-mail notice to renew my NY Times Crossword Puzzle subscription while watching Wordplay.

Monday, November 3, 2008

AUDITION NOTICE - INGENIUS FESTIVAL


INgenius - works from the Writers' Forum at Manhattan Theatre Source

Auditions: November 8th 10:00am-2:00pm & November 9th 10:00am-2:00pm

Callbacks: November 14th 10:00am-6:00pm & November 15th 10:00am-2:00pm & November 16th 10:00am-1:00pm (1 hour per play)

Sign up for an audition slot available immediately at Manhattan
Theatre Source (177 MacDougal St.). One-minute monologue required.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

PROGRAM A: Tech: January 10th-12th Run: January 12th–14th @ 8pm
Program A Producers: Dana Monagan & Kathleen O'Neill

EPIC STORY OF LOVE & SEX by Richard Vetere, directed by Laura Braza

Male lead: same actor plays a young boy, a teenager and an adult. Fast-talking, funny from Queens.

Ralph, Teenager, Young Man with Guitar and Gino: tough Queens/Brooklyn guy.

Young girl June, Carol, Young Wife, Sara Viola, Teenager Girl #1, Lurcia Narducci: Female any age.

Perfect Female, Girl #2, Girl #3, , Sister and Lunetta Narducci: Female any age.

DAR AND MATEY by Larry Pontius, directed by Megan Demarest

Dar: male, pirate, any age any race

Matey: pirate, male, any age any race

Terrible Titian of the Moon Tim: any age, any race, any sex (will also play a king, Princess or Guard)

Deadly Destructive Robot of Doom Dave: any age, any race, any sex (will also play a king, Princess or Guard)

DOWNTOWN by Vanda, directed by Jo Catell

Kate: In her 30s, one of those anonymous women we often see on rush hour subways. She wears sneakers and keeps her shoes in her purse.

John: Male, In his late 20s, wants to do his job and get home, until he meets Kate. Every attempt should be made to speak the language he uses as written.

PROGRAM B: Tech: January 24th-26th Run: January 26th-28th @8pm
Program B Producer: Mariana Santos

THE DEGAS INCIDENT by Vinnie Marano, directed by Dev Bondarin

Edgar Degas: White male, 20's, a dandy, a little self-important

Magistrate: Older, rougher, lower class. Delights in puncturing the pretensions of the rich.

I KNOW THE TRUTH by John Watts, directed by Nicole Franklin

Young Jody: Female, 19-22, African-American. Late sixties college clothes – afro hair style

Young Alan: Male, 19-22, White-American. Late sixties college clothes – conservative (not hippy)

Older Jody: Female, 52, African-American. Sophisticated present-day casual clothing

Older Alan: Male, 52, White-American. Sophisticated present-day casual clothing


MASS INDIVIDUALITY by Laura Schlachtmeyer, directed by Corey Atkins

Woman: any age and nationality

Man: any age and nationality

Nameless: male, any age and nationality

Ensemble: 3 male, 2 female, any age and nationality

AMERICAN JATAKA TALES by Ed Malin, directed Mark Duncan

Actor One: Male or female, ethnic, playing many roles.

Actor Two: Male or female, ethnic, playing many roles.

Actor Three: Male or female, white or ethnic, playing many roles.

PROGRAM C: Tech: January 31st – February 2nd Run: February 2nd-4th @ 8pm
Program C Producer:

DECEMBER by Pamela Yaco, directed by Carly Hirschberg

Emmie: Caucasian, middle aged visiting nurse. A little burnt out, she is cool in a crisis. She can identify and control the situation. She is compassionate has a sense of humor.

Mr. Campbell: An old man who wants to die; he is in terrible pain. He is tired, poor, any race, cantankerous, crusty, scruffy, some beard.


PRESUMPTUOUS by Paul Jordan, Gabriella Willenz

Tom Downey: Male, 50's, full of life, awkward and halting in his speech, but sincere and very open. Tom knows what he's living for.

Margaret Maloney: Female, 45-50, fast-talking, lovable, but very protective, street-wise New Yorker. Sarcastic, short with people and funny. Her shortness hides her sensitive nature.

WHAT WE PLANNED FOR by Jen Thatcher, Angela Astle

Dan: Male, mid-to-late 30's, fairly mild-mannered, eager to be a father

Julie: Female, mid-to-late 30's, very career-oriented and no-nonsense, a little ambiguous about motherhood

UNPRIMED by John McKinney, directed by Jessica McVea

Sarah: Female, 30's, attractive, intelligent, sophisticated, sharp-witted with a deep emotional undercurrent that she has learned to protect at all times. Makes a good living in business yet she comes from a strong liberal arts background.

Russell: Male, 50-ish, attractive, intelligent, sophisticated, sharp-witted with a businesslike politeness that borders on aggravating. Stoic; his facial expressions are inscrutable and poker-like: you never quite know what he's thinking. And covers a deep emotional side.

FULL LENGTH PLAYS
Any Day Now Producer: Sarah Ali

ANY DAY NOW written & directed by Nat Cassidy

Tech: January 3rd – 5th & 16th Run: January 6-8, 17, 19, 29-30 @ 8pm, 18th @ 7pm

Penelope "Pen" Colby: Female, late 60's. Matriarch, strong-willed and independent, recently lost her husband, becoming more and more senile.

Adam Colby: Male, late 60's, Pen's husband. Recently died and has returned as a rather conscious-less void, a harmless zombie. Occasionally mutters and tries to wander, but otherwise vacant and sad. **Brief backside nudity.**

Beverly Colby-Parker: Female, late 40's-early 50's, Pen's older daughter. An alpha female; totally controlling and manipulative, lonely and desperate. She works her way up to a spokesperson and minor celebrity, a comfortable public speaker. (Sarah Palin meets Annette Benning in American Beauty)

David Parker: Male, early 50's, Beverly's husband. Henpecked, career-oriented, likes to talk trivia all the time. Not so much weak as just accustomed to the noise around him.

Jaqueline Colby Parker: Female, 21, Beverly's daughter, spunky, youthful. Just got kicked out of college for selling pot, very bright and clever.

April Colby: Female, 40's, Pen's younger daughter, Beverly's sister. Opposite of Beverly, laid back, funny, caring, good listener, but callous when it comes to Josh. (Mary Louise Parker in Weeds)

Josh Powell: Male, 40's, April's husband. Going through a divorce, just fired from his job as a teacher (for fooling around with one of his students). Drinking far too much. Suicidal darkness and desperation mixed with a continuous wise-cracker, tends to use humor more than anyone else.


LIKENESS by David Caudle, directed & produced by Jessica Ammirati

Tech: January 4th, 5th, 8th, 22nd Run: January 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 23rd, 24th @ 8pm 11th & 25th @ 7pm

Edmund Earraday: Male, 24. An idealistic young portrait painter. High-strung, passionate, nerdy, a prude who thinks he's a rebel.

Marcus: Male, 17. A farm hand assigned to assist Farraday. Eager, innocent, sincere.

Mr. Westerley: Male, 50's. A wealthy landowner and avowed Loyalist. A man sure of his power. Easy manners can quickly give way to a lion's roar.

Miss Westerley: Female, 16. Mr. Westerley's haughty daughter. Quiet. Controlled. Willful.

Miss Preston: Female, 40's Miss Westerley's governess. Cold and correct on the surface.

Mrs. Mapes: Female, late 50's. Mr. Westerley's "niece." Her bawdy humor undermines her pretensions to gentility.