Star players

I would like to give honor and respect to three amazing people. 

There are people who have come into my life that are beyond stars.  They have a quality or aura about them that light up a room.  

I've had the great honor and privilege to work with three such people.  All three have helped in their own special way when I started the theater company.  Their incredible talent and patience has surpassed the call of duty.  They're the type that won't jump ship under pressure.  They're the kind that would throw you a life jacket, which comes second nature to them.

They all have the strength of character that surmounts any obstacle.  They have the ability to ascend to the top in every endeavor. 

• One is an exciting and gifted actress and director, who I love with all my heart. 

• The other is an accomplished writer and actor, who has opened up my mind and soul.

• The third is an intelligent and funny computer whiz, who has taught me to laugh at myself.

I will be forever grateful to them.  Every night before I fall off to sleep, I send up a little prayer of gratitude.  

Much light and love to the three of you, I've truly been blessed by your presence!

Building a Theater Company without an MFA Degree!: Sink or Swim

Building a Theater Company without an MFA Degree!: Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim

I recently had been trapped in a mind set that had been, well, pretty negative.  Things were flowing smoothly with forming the theater company, but then things seemed to run into turbulent water.  My communication skills led to misunderstandings, my plan of action was sinking fast, friends who wanted to form a theater company were jumping ship, and I was left in deep water with no life jacket.  


Being in muddy water doesn't feel good, and pulling yourself out can be a challenge.  I've learned fast and hard that I better have a backup plan for each project because, you may suddenly find that a director, writer, or actor that you were depending on has suddenly backed out of the project, even though theater space and dates were committed to.  This kind of situation has recently come to the surface and left me with a sense of floundering without a ship of hope in sight.  


After bobbing around for awhile in a negative mind set, I finally saw the life raft on the horizon.  I made the decision to keep sailing on course in my desire to have a theater company.  I said I was committed to the ups and downs of starting a theater company and I meant it, I will not jump ship just because of rough waters.  You see, when there is a storm blowing, there are always clearer days ahead.  


I'm gathering a new crew who are excited about coming on board ship.  The theater space and dates that had been abandoned from a former project, I've decided to offer to a new playwright or actors looking to show case their work.  This new idea has re-energized me and led to more creative ideas for the theater company.  I've started up a new workshop series for playwrights who have new plays, who are looking for the chance to have them read and discussed.   The first workshop reading will be on Monday Feb 1 with a new play by Jeremy Sherber.  


I'm happy to be back on course and excited to be sailing in clearer waters.  Here is what the American Heritage Dictionary definition of the word "course"
   
Course:  


               A) Onward movement in a particular direction; progress.
     
               B) The route or path taken by something, such as a stream, that moves.


               C) A mode of action or behavior.






Lesson number Five:  When in the midst of a storm, always remember clearer days are soon ahead.  STAY ON COURSE!