Chronicles of a Fringe Experience
Well, as promised, I'm back to talk about my upcoming show at the Fringe.
It's called Reality Check and you can check out some of the details here.
Producing my own show has been quite the experience. I know that when I was in school I hated being forced to take such "menial" classes as Technical Theatre, but these days I would be at a lost without the skills I'd learned.
At first, I was going to cast myself in it. This had started after all as a make work project for myself. Then realizing that all the good directors I knew (there are more, they just don't have blogs) were already involved in other projects, I decided to do what I had told myself I would never do.
I became a director.
The hardest part about directing? Casting
I foolishly (lazily) didn't want to do auditions. After all, I know a lot of actors, many of which are always complaining that they aren't doing any work, so how hard could it be to insert them into my show. Besides, who doesn't want to be in a play?
Apparently, a lot of them (or maybe they simply didn't want to be in my play?). Excuses ran the gamut from unavailable on show dates, to too busy, to "I don't do theatre" (what?!?). And once I thought I had a show cast the way I wanted it, it wasn't anymore.
Needless to say, to any budding director out there, just suck it up and have some auditions. If people actually show up for them, you're already one step ahead of the game.
Now, finally, I have a full cast and I couldn't be happier. Rehearsal last night was amazing. Everyone is working so well together. To hear my words, words that I at times found to be so-so, coming out of the mouths of talented actors is an incredible rush. They are bringing dept and insight and making me discover things about something I wrote. I am excited.
I am learning a lot and having fun. I've realized that doing my own work is something that I not only enjoy, but I'm good at it too. I already know what my next project is going to be.
If any of you are considering writing and producing your own work, all I can say is why are you holding out on having what could amount to being one of the greatest experiences of your lives?
It's called Reality Check and you can check out some of the details here.
Producing my own show has been quite the experience. I know that when I was in school I hated being forced to take such "menial" classes as Technical Theatre, but these days I would be at a lost without the skills I'd learned.
At first, I was going to cast myself in it. This had started after all as a make work project for myself. Then realizing that all the good directors I knew (there are more, they just don't have blogs) were already involved in other projects, I decided to do what I had told myself I would never do.
I became a director.
The hardest part about directing? Casting
I foolishly (lazily) didn't want to do auditions. After all, I know a lot of actors, many of which are always complaining that they aren't doing any work, so how hard could it be to insert them into my show. Besides, who doesn't want to be in a play?
Apparently, a lot of them (or maybe they simply didn't want to be in my play?). Excuses ran the gamut from unavailable on show dates, to too busy, to "I don't do theatre" (what?!?). And once I thought I had a show cast the way I wanted it, it wasn't anymore.
Needless to say, to any budding director out there, just suck it up and have some auditions. If people actually show up for them, you're already one step ahead of the game.
Now, finally, I have a full cast and I couldn't be happier. Rehearsal last night was amazing. Everyone is working so well together. To hear my words, words that I at times found to be so-so, coming out of the mouths of talented actors is an incredible rush. They are bringing dept and insight and making me discover things about something I wrote. I am excited.
I am learning a lot and having fun. I've realized that doing my own work is something that I not only enjoy, but I'm good at it too. I already know what my next project is going to be.
If any of you are considering writing and producing your own work, all I can say is why are you holding out on having what could amount to being one of the greatest experiences of your lives?
Labels: Making It Work
posted by Nancy Kenny at
4:22 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home