Ask My Friends - Producing at Fringe

We keep the tradition of “Ask My Friends” and next up is Jamie Gahlon who I worked with at Arena Stage. She is a smart young artist and business person. I am sure we will see the words JAMIE GAHLON PRESENTS very soon. She would love for you all to buy tickets or even look up more info about their show. I asked Jamie to tell us what it is like to produce a show for the Capital Fringe Festival.

“Skywriter: Power-Madness! Subject-Verb Agreement!

From the moment I saw my first Fringe show, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of; it was just a matter of finding the right people and project. I had produced a couple of shows in college and gained some experience line-producing readings and workshops in my current job at Arena Stage, but the control freak and adventurer in me was missing the fun and chaos endemic to producing, of creating something from scratch and getting to be involved in all aspects of the process from conception to death. So when my friend/colleague/playwright extraordinaire Seamus Sullivan asked if I would consider producing a show he wanted to write for Fringe this summer, I was totally on board. Seamus, a number of other Georgetown grads, and I got together, and The Angry Young Theatre Company was born.

My initial excitement wavered only slightly as I came to terms with what lie ahead; I would be producing for the "real world," we had no budget save my trusty Wells Fargo Visa, and the most exciting/terrifying part was the fact that Skywriter was a new play, an entirely different beast from a script arriving pre-packaged and prepped for distribution.

As soon as we were officially accepted into Fringe in March, we set up auditions and put word out about the show:

"As an English teacher at a troubled DC public school, Frank Fletcher deals with a host of problems; crumbling infrastructure, violence in the halls, controversial reforms, and students who aren't always inclined to sit and learn. Thanks to a traumatic accident, he also believes himself to be a superhero named Skywriter who spends his nights patrolling neighborhood rooftops. When a new student teacher uncovers his secret identity, Fletcher must reflect on whether his heroic alter ego is a dangerous delusion or a much needed force for good in the city."

We were incredibly pleased with the response to auditions and ended up with four fabulous actors, Ricardo Frederick Evans, Christopher Michael Todd, Genevieve James, and Lynn Bandoria.

I spent the next couple of weeks madly crafting contracts, navigating Equity waters to obtain the necessary waivers, searching for rehearsal space, and getting as precise a production calendar as possible given the info that was steadily arriving from Fringe. In many respects, the blessing and curse of Fringe is the pre-ordained structure. Pro: You get a venue, name recognition, and a built-in promotional network. Con: We will have a two-hour tech and must limit the show to an hour. Thankfully, Seamus and our director, Hunter Styles, have both been aware of such constraints and have done an awesome job preserving the magnitude and substance of the show without allowing the scope to careen out of control.

By the time we were cast, Seamus had a rough first draft, but it was clear that in order to do the show justice, we would need to get a development process in place. We partnered with the Artists' Bloc as a part of their Modern Scribes program and set up three readings during April, May and June. We used our cast when they were available, and after each reading, Artists' Bloc staff helped to facilitate a non-critical feedback session based on questions generated by Seamus. It was truly incredible to experience the evolution of the script, sweeping changes and minute adjustments alike.

Seamus set the script in early June as we finalized our press pitches and listings and sent our marketing materials to print, albeit later than we had hoped (isn't that always the way?). We began rehearsals just over three weeks ago, and though it's hard to believe, we head into tech this week, and Fringe is fast upon us. Today, we had a preview performance at Big Monkey Comics on 14th Street, and though the space was unconventional, it was incredible to see a sampling of what's to come, and it was great for our cast to get some practice in front of an audience before the real deal begins THIS Saturday!

As I type, I have just sent the agenda for our last Production meeting, finished finalizing our strange tech week schedule (which includes practicing our 15 minute load in and load outs, God help us), and am trying to understand the minutiae and costs of the wondrous world of ZipCar. Do you know exactly how big the back end of a pick-up truck is or how to secure a rolling chain link fence in said pick-up? Neither do I, but I will by the time this is through.

Outside of the thrill of creation itself and the fun of working with a team of artists I deeply respect, the most rewarding part of the process thus far has been to be a part of something I believe has potential as a tool to affect positive social change in our city, to incite reflection on the state of DC Public schools, and, ideally, to serve as a catalyst for action that moves beyond the theater lobby. Skywriter begs us all to examine who we as a society choose to make superhuman and to seek out and recognize the superheroes who walk among us every day."

Being Laid Off

Last week, I heard of another local theatre who laid off more employees in an effort to keep costs down. This is a trend we're seeing all over the country, and, unfortunately, maybe it's happened to you. Having been laid off myself, I thought I would share some of the things I did to look for jobs.

First off, check with your old employer. Chances are it was nothing you did, but just financial times that contributed to the loss of your job. So check with your old boss and Human Resources to see what is out there. (This is actually how I first heard about the job I have now.)

Second, ask your contacts if there is any position they might know of that is open. They might have friends who need someone with your skills. Use Facebook and other networking tools to reach out. Don’t be ashamed of being laid off. They are expecting 3 million Americans will be laid off this year.

Thirdly, I suggest you make a job out of finding a job. I woke up at 9:00 a.m. every day to look for work. I typed cover letters, edited my resume, and read books about finding jobs. There is a great book called What Color Is Your Parachute. It is a must read if you are job hunting!

Lastly, budget, budget, budget! Look at your severance package, any income you may have, and your savings. Sign up for unemployment fast. Take all this into consideration, and determine how long you can live on it. See what you can cut, and make a plan. I knew exactly when I would run out of money. My credit cards were clear, and I was going to use them as a last resort to move home if need be. It would have not been pretty, but I knew exactly when it was coming.

I was really fortunate to have found a job, but I was zeroing in a couple of job options near the end of my three month layoff. So remember to look everywhere and reach out to find jobs, and treat job hunting like a job. And most importantly, remember to budget!

Fresh Eyes

Today I have a new assistant starting. She is new to this position, but not new to me. Kat and I have worked together on several projects. We first worked together at Webster University and have done a couple of projects since then. I am excited to have her start today because I think it will help me get a fresh perspective on the operations of our department, and that is really important.

A lot of companies hire outside consultants to come in and give their operations a look. They make recommendations, and about half the time they tell you things you already know. But maybe you forgot because you got caught up in the day-to-day operations.

I should mention that she is only here temporarily while the full-time assistant is out for a couple of months. I can't wait to see what new ideas Kat can bring to the table. Who do you have in your network who can bring a new angle to the table?

No Blog Today

Thanks for all the kind words and prayers. I will continue to blog as normal next week. I hope you all have a great Fouth of July and remember to call your family an friends.

The Fouth is a special time for me becuase it reminds me of the summer I lived with Percy. We all spent the day together with friends and every Fouth I think of that year and my best friend Kat Hill yelling, "It is the day y'all." Until next week.

My Friends - David Twomey

Seems like just yesterday he was yelling at us all to not mess up his coffee table. He had a special place for everything in his house, and if you moved it an inch, he would know. He had a great love for history and loved to argue about politics with us.

Yesterday, we lost a son, a brother, a friend, and a great guy. When I first heard, I thought it was a lie. I couldn't believe someone the same age as me that was perfectly healthy last week would be in ICU this weekend. I rushed to the hospital last night when I heard there were only a few hours left. I got there in time to see his family leave his room. And then the nurse came out to say he was gone.

I had to leave.

I can’t stop crying because he was such a great guy, and it seems so unfair. All we can do is focus on the good times. Amazing what a role Facebook ended up playing in this. I actually first heard through Facebook because people were writing getting well messages. His wall was full of messages from friends all over the country. Then his younger brother started to post updates to keep us all informed. Everything seemed so hopeful. Last night, his brother posted the news as soon as it happened. Now his wall is full of memories that will forever memorialize the friend we all lost.

I am still in disbelief. I was speaking to my younger brother last night because he lost his best friend about four years ago. It sounds stupid I just don’t want to ever forget him, and I asked Brandon how often he thought of Cody, and he said, "Every day."

David - I know you are in a better place, watching over us. I will never forget the friend I lost yesterday. Rest in peace.