Playwright's Chat Corner: PRODUCING YOUR OWN WORK

 Subject:  PLAYWRIGHTS CORNER CHAT-produce

Author:  lots of playwrights

Uploaded By:  HOST WRTR SOFIE

Date:  4/11/2001

File:  march 13 2001 (31644 bytes) 

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PRODUCING YOUR OWN WORK

Mondays

10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT), Writers Grill

Playwrights Corner - Topics of interest to playwrights, moderated by HOST WRTR Herone, HOST WRTR Sofie & HOST WRTR LUD.

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HOST WRTR Lud: IIII

HOST WRTR Lud: I think Noel may have tuned in then left his computer.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: England!  Imagine!

OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Herone has entered the room.

Noel Katz: Nothing new from England.  England is waiting to hear from us

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi herone

HOST WRTR SOFIE: LOL Noel

OnlineHost: Beffffff has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: Hi all

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi Beffff

Noel Katz: We're meeting Thursday to proofread the re-formatted draft

OnlineHost: Beffffff has left the room.

Noel Katz: and then we'll contact England

HOST WRTR Lud: Well, I'll let you know how it goes.   Apparently, a London

Theatre is already booked.

HOST WRTR Herone: fingers x'd for good things

HOST WRTR Lud: So let's talk about producing our own works.

HOST WRTR Herone: yes indeed

HOST WRTR SOFIE: how wonderful this all is!  

HOST WRTR Lud: Which--for a long time--was the story of my career.

Noel Katz: I've never done it.  And would never do it

OnlineHost: Pjmckenny has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: well, there's an immediate polarity!

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi Patti

HOST WRTR Herone: Hi Patti

Pjmckenny: Hi, all.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I thought that way until a few weeks ago...

HOST WRTR Herone: I'm somewhere in the middle.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Thought I would never ever produce my own work

HOST WRTR Herone: I never technically self-produced

OnlineHost: MsTwisterB has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: I must admit the happiest productions I've worked on--and the

ones where the cast remained

HOST WRTR Herone: but I helped run a theatre that produced much of my work

HOST WRTR SOFIE: in my case it was on a very small scale -- produced the one

act for the AACTfest

HOST WRTR Herone: hi TwisterB

HOST WRTR Lud: good friends--have been ones I produced myself.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi MsTwisterB

MsTwisterB: Evening all... LTNS

HOST WRTR Herone: so that sort of counts

Noel Katz: Good evening, Patti

HOST WRTR Lud: CHARLOTTE SWEET, NORTH ATLANTIC, DELPHI OR BUST, TALES OF

TINSELTOWN all started 

Pjmckenny: Our group's in the midst of producing a showcase cabaret

ourselves...

Pjmckenny: ...so I'm really interested in any tips anyone has.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: how is it going, Pj?

HOST WRTR Lud: as productions I produced or co-produced.

Pjmckenny: Good evening, Noel, how are you?

HOST WRTR Lud: I've also produced many cabaret events. 

HOST WRTR Herone: What are the main things you have learned from

self-producing?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: tip - remain calm

OnlineHost: MsTwisterB has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: All, tips please.

HOST WRTR Lud: What do you need to know?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: use Dustin Hoffman's performance in WAG THE DOG as an

example

Pjmckenny: Sof, OK -- we found out today we have to change venues because

IATSE won't budge.

HOST WRTR Lud: First, try to make everyone feel equally important.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: ouch -- have you found a new venue?

Noel Katz: I met one of the members of the musical theatre writers

Playground this week

Pjmckenny: Sof, working on it, but we think so.

HOST WRTR Lud: Secondly, keep very organized.  Start a contact list and use

it to check in periodically on 

HOST WRTR Herone: good idea, Lud

HOST WRTR Lud: everyone to make sure everything is in order.  Don't take

anything for granted.

HOST WRTR Herone: another tip: frequent production meetings

HOST WRTR Herone: with an agenda

Pjmckenny: Lud:  all that we've got.  Data base, everyone's backed up, etc.

HOST WRTR Herone: Delegate responsibilities, not just tasks.

HOST WRTR Lud: Also, have backup ideas.  With cabaret events, invariably

someone drops out and you'd best

HOST WRTR Lud: have an active list of people you can fall back on.

OnlineHost: Davewrites has entered the room.

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HOST WRTR Lud: What did the writer from the Playground say, Noel?  How's

that organization doing?

HOST WRTR Herone: Don't do everything.  But check up frequently on who's

supposed to be doing what.

Noel Katz: Its in its third year.  We had such a brief period to talk, and

mostly spoke of A Class Act

Noel Katz: He did opine that expanding the number of Playground members

wasn't a good idea

HOST WRTR Lud: It will be interesting to see what happens with A CLASS ACT.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, it's best to have a solid core.

Noel Katz: Times gave it a good review-for those who cared to read 4

paragraphs in

HOST WRTR Lud: So did Howard Kissel, whom I trust the most.

HOST WRTR Lud: Clive Barnes, a total idiot, panned it.

HOST WRTR Herone: In self-producing:  publicity and promotion is paramount.

HOST WRTR Lud: He has a history of not liking worthwhile musicals.

Pjmckenny: Anyone with a self-produced horror story we can learn from?

HOST WRTR Herone: meaning: you can have a great product, but if no one comes

to see it

HOST WRTR Lud: Herone, you can't publicize yourself.

HOST WRTR Herone: what's the point?

HOST WRTR Lud: You need to find someone to do it for you.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: I don't know about that, Lud

HOST WRTR Herone: That's where it varies from place to place, Lud.

HOST WRTR Lud: Finding a good publicist is essential.  

HOST WRTR SOFIE: but that might be another topic

Noel Katz: That's how I felt about my last show, Herone.  Woefully

underpublicized

HOST WRTR Herone: In NYC, you're right.  Not everywhere else.

Noel Katz: The producer (my librettist) didn't see the value in hiring a

publicist

HOST WRTR Herone: bad idea -- too bad, Noel

Pjmckenny: We have four people who are or used to be publicists in our

group...

Pjmckenny: ...so we're OK in that regard.

HOST WRTR Herone: But whether you hire a publicist, or use an in-house

publicist

HOST WRTR Herone: you gotta get ink

HOST WRTR Lud: Sometimes though the publicist can kill you.  My last

publicist had critics attending at the

Noel Katz: What "group" is this, PJ?

Pjmckenny: her, absolutely.

HOST WRTR Lud: very first performance.

Noel Katz: New York ink is nearly impossible to get.  Especially on limited

runs

Pjmckenny: Noel, Chicago Musical Theatre Works.

HOST WRTR Herone: and whoever it is needs to know how the press in your town

operates

Pjmckenny: Her, yes.

HOST WRTR Herone: who and how to contact

HOST WRTR Lud: Strangely enough, when I did an AIDS benefit of my songs, I

used no publicist but myself.

HOST WRTR Lud: I sent out faxes and ended up in Liz Smith's column.

HOST WRTR Herone: my point exactly, Lud

HOST WRTR Herone: It's imperative you (or your publicist) know how to work

the system.

HOST WRTR Lud: On the other hand, my publicist for CHARLOTTE SWEET did us

proud.

Pjmckenny: The League of Chicago Theatres has a fax campaign for press

releases, which helps.

HOST WRTR Lud: Brought in just the right critics at the right time.

HOST WRTR Lud: Waited, saw the show, and didn't bring them till he knew it

was ready.

HOST WRTR Herone: Second -- I think having a sensible calendar is essential.

HOST WRTR Herone: Having enough time, and knowing what the deadlines should

be

Noel Katz: How much do publicists cost?  Isn't it a major budget item?

HOST WRTR Herone: for each phase of production.

HOST WRTR Herone: Depends on the community, Noel -- don't know NYC prices.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, Noel.  It can take several $1,000

HOST WRTR Lud: Not including some of the ad costs.

HOST WRTR Herone: Running out of time for essential things is a stumbling

block for many

Noel Katz: Well, you see: That's more than I'll ever have

HOST WRTR Herone: self-produced events/shows.

HOST WRTR Lud: But it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

Pjmckenny: Lud, exactly.

HOST WRTR Herone: Noel -- being a producer means raising the money - not

having it already.

HOST WRTR Lud: You really have to budget it in, or you're throwing away all

your other money.

HOST WRTR Herone: That's the other thing about self-producing (or producing)

--

Noel Katz: But then again, it's further reason why I'll never self-produce

HOST WRTR Lud: Herone, I'm afraid it often DOES mean having it in the first

place.

HOST WRTR Herone: knowing how to get money (or in-kind) from others

HOST WRTR Lud: When I originally produced CHARLOTTE SWEET, no one wanted to

touch it.  I had to turn to my 

OnlineHost: SnowyNight has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: family for the showcase.

HOST WRTR Herone: Often it does, Lud.  But having grown a not-for-profit

from $5,000 annually to $400,000 

OnlineHost: SnowyNight has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: annually (it's even bigger now) --

HOST WRTR Herone: a lot of producing is about talking people into things

HOST WRTR Herone: Family helps.  So do friends or acquaintances with cash.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, but most of them need to have faith in you--which means

they either know your work from

HOST WRTR Lud: previous samples (the old Catch 22) or they just do it

because they

HOST WRTR Lud: like you personally.

HOST WRTR Lud: And don't mind losing money--which is the overwhelming

likelihood.

HOST WRTR Herone: I had a very charismatic partner (CPT's A.D.).  He could

talk people into opening their 

HOST WRTR Herone: wallets for the most unlikely things, that had nothing to

do with profit for them.

Pjmckenny: Her, it's quite a skill.

HOST WRTR Herone: Because I worked in not-for-profit, I learned a lot about

getting $$ by making things sound 

OnlineHost: EmilieSara has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: good, kind of as a mitzvah for the giver.

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HOST WRTR Herone: Most people who give money for theatre really don't expect

to get it back.  

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, and not every playwright feels comfortable doing that.

Pjmckenny: Lud, true, but some do, and more power to them.

HOST WRTR Herone: But you need to have such unerring faith in what you're

doing --

HOST WRTR Herone: That's why I think having a little collective or

collaborative helps.

HOST WRTR Herone: You're getting people to do for the group, and it feels

Pjmckenny: Her, ours sure does.

HOST WRTR Herone: like less of an ego-trip.

HOST WRTR Herone: Then you can tap everyone's circle for smaller amounts

HOST WRTR Herone: rather than a few people for everything.

Pjmckenny: Her, we have people volunteering who don't even have material in

the show...

Pjmckenny: ...because they see the long-run potential.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, some people are good at raising money.  Me, I'm

sensational at lining up talented peopl

HOST WRTR Herone: exactly, Patti -- it's about making people see the

potential

HOST WRTR Lud: performers and collaborators.

OnlineHost: Jujuevins has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: Hi Julia.

HOST WRTR Herone: Knowing what people's talents (off-stage) are -- that's as

important in producing

Jujuevins: greetings all.

HOST WRTR Herone: as knowing what the on-stage talents are.

Jujuevins: what's our subject tonight?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hey there Jujuevins

Pjmckenny: Her, great point:  putting the right people in the right jobs.

HOST WRTR Herone: I was always good at talking people into seeing the

potential of an idea, getting them

HOST WRTR Lud: I've always had great luck rounding up people because I have

the reputation of treating them

HOST WRTR Lud: all royally.

HOST WRTR Herone: excited about it.  Which made me a very good fit with our

A.D.

HOST WRTR Lud: You'd be surprised how many great actors (and famous ones)

are

HOST WRTR Herone: He was a "sexier sell", I made us look competent.

HOST WRTR Lud: treated badly, even in benefit situations.

HOST WRTR Herone: I believe it, Lud.

HOST WRTR Herone: I used to be able to get nearly anyone in town to

volunteer for anything. 

HOST WRTR Lud: In the last few months alone, I lined up Donna McKechnie,

Diana Canova, Brian d'Arcy James, 

HOST WRTR Lud: Karen Ziemba.

HOST WRTR Herone: mainly because I made them feel needed and appreciated

OnlineHost: patd97 has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: You just have to know how to shmooze and maintain a good

reputation

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi pat

HOST WRTR Lud: in case they check up on you.

Jujuevins: so, we're talking about producing benefits?

patd97: hi

HOST WRTR Herone: A producer needs to hand out strokes as much or more than

paychecks.

Pjmckenny: Any kind of self-production, Ju.

HOST WRTR Herone: Producing our own work, Juju --

HOST WRTR Herone: including events and what it takes to mount and publicize

them.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, that's another advantage of having a good publicist.

HOST WRTR Lud: You're likelier to attract excellent talent if they know

they're going to get attention in 

HOST WRTR Lud: the press.

HOST WRTR Herone: The other thing about self-producing (or producing) is:

HOST WRTR Herone: you have to learn from your mistakes

HOST WRTR Lud: Which in turn works for the publicist, if you line up a few

"names."

Jujuevins: ahhh. I see. Im a graphic designer. I really enjoy treating my

clients well. Love helping th

HOST WRTR Herone: Some people never do.

Jujuevins: them. and they appreciate the attention.

OnlineHost: Awritinglife has entered the room.

Pjmckenny: Her:  good point also.

HOST WRTR Herone: You have to figure out what went wrong, and take steps to

fix it next time.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's terrific, Juju -- and clients appreciate the

attention

HOST WRTR Lud: Jujuevins works with such people as Susan Egan and Bruce

Kimmel.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi Awritinglife

Awritinglife: hi, anything specific in here?

HOST WRTR Herone: You have to have an eagle eye for who is suitable to do

what.  

HOST WRTR Herone: because you cannot do it all yourself or you will be

toast.

Jujuevins: yeah, that's my theater connection...and i design props for a nyc

based production designer.

HOST WRTR Lud: Actually, when you self-produce you'd better be sure that the

people 

HOST WRTR Lud: assigned to other duties are responsible people.

HOST WRTR Herone: Exactly.

HOST WRTR Lud: Or you'll end up doing three times the work by yourself.

Jujuevins: what I love about theater is the collaborations....the sum of the

parts is greater....you kn

HOST WRTR Herone: Cleaning up is harder.

OnlineHost: Awritinglife has left the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: Absoutely Jujuevins.

HOST WRTR Lud: There's a definite family feeling under the best

circumstances.

HOST WRTR Herone: Just because somebody is willing to pitch in doesn't mean

they're suited to every task/area.

HOST WRTR Lud: That's why I'm so looking forward to my birthday party.

Those performers

HOST WRTR Lud: are all like family to me.

HOST WRTR Herone: that's great, Lud

HOST WRTR Lud: Last week I was at the Bistro Awards, and Jason Graae (one of

the

HOST WRTR Lud: winners) was the performing hit of the night.

HOST WRTR Lud: I was so touched when later he called out to me in the crowd.

Jujuevins: very cool lud

HOST WRTR Herone: Patti, you asked earlier about self-producing horror

stories --

HOST WRTR Herone: does anyone have one?

Noel Katz: The man who called you Ludlam?

HOST WRTR Lud: Actually, ironically, most of my horror stories are based on

shows that got picked up after

Pjmckenny: Yes, help the rest of us pre-see potential mistakes.

HOST WRTR Herone: I have an early one.  A very early CPT benefit aptly

titled

HOST WRTR Lud: I showcased them.

HOST WRTR Herone: "The Nightmare Affair", done one Halloween.

HOST WRTR Lud: Jason was still mourning Robert Ludlam.

HOST WRTR Herone: It had every possible disaster attached --

HOST WRTR Herone: too short a time frame, no publicity, a disastrous venue

(a crumbling condemned building)

Pjmckenny: Yikes...

OnlineHost: Jackatbrun has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: but the topper was that the A.D. hired some fortune

tellers who were gypsies

HOST WRTR Herone: who stole the collected receipts!

Pjmckenny: LOL!

Pjmckenny: Note to self, no gypsies...

HOST WRTR Herone: what a disaster, LOL!

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, I once hired a stage manager who ran off with $1,000

never to return.

HOST WRTR Herone: Every time the A.D. would come up with a hairbrained

benefit scheme, we'd all say:

HOST WRTR Herone: Nightmare Affair -- and he'd fold

OnlineHost: AWalradt has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: Next time don't trust anyone who see a pentagon in your palm.

Pjmckenny: LOL.  Mistake learned from.

HOST WRTR Herone: So it probably saved us more pain in the long run than it

caused, LOL

Pjmckenny: Jack***

Jackatbrun: Pj*

HOST WRTR Herone: I have also seen a lot of self-produced work here in town

--

Noel Katz: I don't trust anyone who's seen a palm in the Pentagon, myself

OnlineHost: Clcwalker has entered the room.

Jackatbrun: Are we speaking of characters' names tonight?

HOST WRTR Herone: and one of the things you learn from that is:

Pjmckenny: LOL, Noel.

HOST WRTR Herone: Be careful of nepotism.

Pjmckenny: Seld-producing, Jack.

OnlineHost: Jackatbrun has left the room.

Pjmckenny: (self)

HOST WRTR Herone: i.e., don't cast your girlfriend/boyfriend 

OnlineHost: Clcwalker has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: or mailman just because you "trust" them

HOST WRTR SOFIE: or make your boyfriend stage manage

HOST WRTR Herone: or owe them

HOST WRTR Herone: exactly

OnlineHost: AWalradt has left the room.

Noel Katz: My inability to get my girlfriend cast caused great strain at

home

HOST WRTR Lud: One of my favorite expressions coined by E.Y. Harburg was

Pjmckenny: Noel, that's show biz.

Noel Katz: I'd say it continues to this day, and here we are a year after

the run

HOST WRTR Lud: "Pentagonnorhea.

Jujuevins: right person for the right job...no nepotism. got it. :)

HOST WRTR Lud: "

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, every time I write a song with my wife, it's like War of

the Roses.

HOST WRTR Herone: That's a real trade-off in ensemble-based work (where you

are creating work for a group)

HOST WRTR Herone: versus getting just the right people for a work

HOST WRTR Herone: That sorta nepotism factor makes for fancy juggling.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, it's a very different dynamic.

HOST WRTR Herone: Whether you consider, for example, a small off-off company

as "self-production" or not,

HOST WRTR SOFIE: but if your boyfriend VOLUNTEERS to stage manage...

HOST WRTR Lud: That's why I insist on being paid when I'm writing for a

group, but when I cast a show 

HOST WRTR Lud: around my material, I don't charge.

HOST WRTR Herone: that "we have to use A and B as directors because they

came to every meeting"

HOST WRTR Herone: or cast C and D...it becomes problemativc

HOST WRTR Lud: Make sure he knows HOW to stage manage.

HOST WRTR Herone: problematic

HOST WRTR Lud: It was pretty difficult for me when I was dating Mara

Beckerman, after

HOST WRTR SOFIE: LOL -- he does

HOST WRTR Lud: she was my original Charlotte Sweet.  I had intended TALES OF

TINSELTOWN for her.

HOST WRTR Lud: But she didn't get cast.

HOST WRTR Herone: yikes

HOST WRTR Lud: Even though I was producing it.

HOST WRTR Herone: double yikes

HOST WRTR Lud: But there was a major difference.

Noel Katz: "Who'd you have to f___ to get a role in this show??"

HOST WRTR Lud: When I cas CHARLOTTE SWEET, I wrote it for Mara and she was

spectacularly right

HOST WRTR Lud: for it.

HOST WRTR Lud: My director didn't want to use her anyway.

HOST WRTR Lud: I had to tell him that I was overturning his decision--since

I was the producer.

HOST WRTR Lud: And I was right.

HOST WRTR Lud: He wanted to cast Polly Pen, who was a close friend of HIS>

Noel Katz: On On the Brink I successfully fought against the casting of a

collaborator's girlfriend. 

Noel Katz: It was quite a battle

HOST WRTR Lud: But everyone agreed (except for him) that Mara was the better

choice.

HOST WRTR Lud: In the cast of TALES OF TINSELTOWN, she wasn't the best

choice.

HOST WRTR Lud: so I had to accede.

HOST WRTR Herone: Well, Lud, you had the wits to realize it.

HOST WRTR Herone: Not everyone does.

HOST WRTR Herone: The whole issue of casting, with nepotism, connections,

etc. is a whole topic unto itself.

HOST WRTR Lud: I've quit organizations when they became vanity setups that

really hurt the group.

Pjmckenny: Her, it is -- let's file that one.

HOST WRTR Herone: I think so -- it's a biiig topic with lots of

implications.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: we'll do that one soon

HOST WRTR Lud: That's fair.  Vanity fair.

HOST WRTR Herone: Any other general comments about self-productions -- dos

and don'ts 

HOST WRTR Herone: :-)  Good one, Lud.

HOST WRTR Herone: If you had to do something over again, after

self-producing, what would it be?

Pjmckenny: Thorough organization, good timelines, backup, PR, delegate

well...

HOST WRTR Lud: Just if you really believe in your show and can't get anyone

to put it on, start small (a re

HOST WRTR Lud: a reading, whatever), but get it on y ourself.

HOST WRTR Herone: Start small is a good tip.  Don't make a full production

of, say,

Pjmckenny: Herone, I'd delegate better.

HOST WRTR Herone: a 25 actor historical epic your first self-production.

HOST WRTR Lud: Yes, first organize a reading.

HOST WRTR Lud: Then a small-scale production--IF you're ready.

Noel Katz: Yes, but my show just won't work without the falling chandelier,

the rising coptor

HOST WRTR Herone: oh well!

Noel Katz: and the star descending a staircase in a green sequined dress

HOST WRTR Lud: Do it with puppets, Noel.

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL Lud

HOST WRTR SOFIE: LOL

Pjmckenny: This time we're paying a kid $70 to put up posters instead of the

writers doing it.

HOST WRTR Lud: Do it with pasties, Noel.

HOST WRTR Herone: I'd say, explore all the ways to get freebies 

HOST WRTR Herone: and pay for the things that are really aggravating and not

worth scrounging

Pjmckenny: All the favors to be called in too.

HOST WRTR Herone: exactly, PJ

Pjmckenny: The performers are all doing it pro bono because it's worth the

exposure.

HOST WRTR Herone: You wouldn't believe how you can get set pieces,

everything from a ton of sand to a full 

HOST WRTR Herone: kitchen, donated by a business in exchange for an ad

HOST WRTR Lud: Or they do it because they believe in you--which is the

highest compliment.

Pjmckenny: That too, Lud.

HOST WRTR Lud: I still have the wheelchair from Equity Library Theatre.

HOST WRTR Lud: It's in my basement.

Noel Katz: I still live 5 blocks from where ELT was

HOST WRTR Herone: It's time now for...Shameless Plugs

HOST WRTR Lud: I'm sure it was used when they did SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO.

HOST WRTR Herone: Plugs, anybody?

Noel Katz: and now you can do Sherry

HOST WRTR Lud: Who first.  I'm ready.

Pjmckenny: Noel, you'll get those notes yet tonight:  might be late, but

they're coming.

Noel Katz: I can't wait, PJ.  (Now, I won't sleep)

Noel Katz: Today was a pretty good day...

Pjmckenny: Noel:  Sleep.  Looks like a late night here.

HOST WRTR Lud: Should I start?

Noel Katz: An old friend (who's been in 2 of my shows) came over in search

of new material...

HOST WRTR SOFIE: a good day...?

Noel Katz: ...she took 4 or 5 of my songs

HOST WRTR Herone: yes, Lud, you too

HOST WRTR Lud: And, Noel?

HOST WRTR Lud: Noel first.

Noel Katz: That's it.  End of story

HOST WRTR Herone: Lud, go

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's great!

Pjmckenny: Noel, great -- hope they're out into the world well soon.

OnlineHost: ArtProse has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Lud: I've been told TALES OF TINSELTOWN is pretty much set for the

Players Theatre in London.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: hi artprose

HOST WRTR Lud: That's where THE BOY FRIEND started.

HOST WRTR Herone: terrific, Lud

ArtProse: hi

Pjmckenny: Lud, congrats -- glad to hear it.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: wow, Lud!  We knew you when! (now)

HOST WRTR Lud: Please, I've been a pauper, a puppet, etc.

OnlineHost: patd97 has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: Me, I had a lovely vacation.

HOST WRTR Lud: I can't remember how that song goes.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: was it a small world after all, Herone?

Pjmckenny: Linda, how was Disney World?

HOST WRTR Herone: and came back to a request for a royalty quote for MARLA'S

DEVOTION

HOST WRTR Lud: More people tentatively set for my birthday celebration.

Announcements to come.

Noel Katz: "... the artist formerly known as Prince, and a king"

HOST WRTR Herone: from a theatre in Madison WI

Pjmckenny: Great!

HOST WRTR Lud: Great, Herone.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's wonderful, Herone

OnlineHost: ArtProse has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: which is bizarre because I dreamed last night that I got

lost on a drive

HOST WRTR Herone: and ended up in Madison WI!

HOST WRTR Herone: just remembered that

HOST WRTR SOFIE: spooky, Herone

Noel Katz: This week I thought about having one of my characters end up in

Wisconsin

Pjmckenny: How odd that is, Linda.

HOST WRTR Herone: my dream had me surrounded by people with pink cheeks

HOST WRTR Herone: from Madison WI

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL

HOST WRTR Lud: Funny, I dream about getting pink checks.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: LOL

Noel Katz: And my girlfriend dreamt she attended some Jewish holiday

festival where they wouldn't let 

Noel Katz: her eat

HOST WRTR Herone: I had a lovely but exhausting time at the Mouse.

HOST WRTR Lud: Or do I mean pink slips.

Pjmckenny: Lud:  that's eerie too, got one this week from a jazz label.

HOST WRTR Herone: but lots of fun with my family.

Pjmckenny: Literally, a pink check.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: glad to know that, Herone

HOST WRTR Lud: Who was it from Peggy Lee?

HOST WRTR Herone: Hey, royalties!  That sounds good, PJ.

Pjmckenny: LOL.

Pjmckenny: Yeah, Linda, that girl's moving some CDs.

HOST WRTR Herone: super

HOST WRTR Herone: which CD is moving for you?  

HOST WRTR Lud: Maybe it was on Yom Kippur, Noel.

Pjmckenny: Rene Marie's "How Can I Keep from Singing?"  

HOST WRTR Herone: cool

Pjmckenny: $288 bucks for one quarter, which is astonishing in that niche.

HOST WRTR Herone: terrific

Noel Katz: Her subconcious knows that _I_ would like to stop her from eating

Pjmckenny: I thought it would be $3.87.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: well, mine isn't a plug really, but I'm happy to report I

survived the AACTfest..

HOST WRTR Herone: LOL!  How did it go, Sofie?

HOST WRTR Herone: survival is a plug for many an occasion

Noel Katz: I saw two interesting musicals on Broadway this week.  Does that

count?

HOST WRTR Herone: I've lived through

Pjmckenny: So true, Linda.

HOST WRTR Herone: sure, Noel

HOST WRTR Lud: I feel good, if I don't have to pay $288 for a show of mine.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: The judges weren't as crazy about our play as they were

about Sister Mary Ignatius... 

Noel Katz: A Class Act is simply the best new musical I've seen on Broadway

in many years

Noel Katz: And Follies has much to admire, if nothing to love

HOST WRTR SOFIE: but the crowd roared and applauded us in the middle of the

show

HOST WRTR Herone: It's very, very hard for an original piece to do well in

that kind of festival, Sofie.

Pjmckenny: Noel, did you see that before at MTC?

HOST WRTR Lud: So you saw the latest production of FOLLIES.

HOST WRTR Lud: That's a favorite show of mine.

HOST WRTR Herone: that's swell, Sofie

Noel Katz: Yes, I also saw it at MTC, a wonderfully intimate space

Pjmckenny: Is it better/different now?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: and I gave away tons of scripts to presidents of the local

theaters

HOST WRTR Herone: that makes it worthwhile

Noel Katz: At Follies, I found myself wholly unable to give a dam about what

happened to the characters

Noel Katz: It's slightly better textually, but A Class Act loses so much in

a big theatre.

HOST WRTR Herone: they have that effect on me, too, Noel --

HOST WRTR SOFIE: A cab driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit the truck we

rented for our set...

Pjmckenny: Oops -- gotta go.  Thanks as always, hosts and all.  

HOST WRTR Lud: That was a criticism leveled at the original production.  But

I definitely cared about them.

HOST WRTR Herone: oh yikes, Sofie!

Noel Katz: Looking forward, PJ

Pjmckenny: Linda:  will e-mail you tomorrow, you're getting some new stuff.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: Sent it 10 feet onto the sidewalk -- broke a few set pieces

HOST WRTR Herone: wonderful, Patti!  I was so excited by your email.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: thank goodness for duct tape

Pjmckenny: You got it, Noel.  

HOST WRTR SOFIE: the poor driver went to the hospital

Pjmckenny: Linda, and I by yours.  We're rollin'.

HOST WRTR Herone: I have a process plug -- got a very good reaction from my

writers' group

Noel Katz: In the first act, it's possible to care about Sally.  But not in

the second

HOST WRTR SOFIE: but it galvenized the cast and crew

Pjmckenny: Thanks all -- 'bye.

HOST WRTR Herone: re: a piece I've had in process for a while.

OnlineHost: Pjmckenny has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: nite

Noel Katz: And this is a four protagonist show

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's terrific, Linda

HOST WRTR Herone: so that got me excited to work on it again

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that's a wonderful gift

HOST WRTR Herone: and our new lit mgr at the Play House is a dream to work

with

HOST WRTR Herone: at least so far -- responsive and responsible

Noel Katz: Where, Herone?

HOST WRTR Herone: Cleveland Play House

HOST WRTR Lud: That's a relief.  I had literary managers who are stuckup

snobs.

HOST WRTR Herone: that's where I'm a member of its Playwrights Unit

Jujuevins: Night. All the best with your projects!

HOST WRTR Herone: he was former Producing Director at Primary Stages -- Seth

Gordon

HOST WRTR Lud: Thank you.  I must run now too.  See you all next week.

HOST WRTR Herone: nite all

HOST WRTR Herone: great chat tonight

OnlineHost: Jujuevins has left the room.

OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Lud has left the room.

OnlineHost: GoldZilla has entered the room.

Noel Katz: I'm sure we met.  The Christmas Bride was originally done at

Primary Stages 12 years ago

OnlineHost: TRing85673 has entered the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: he was there a long time -- 

OnlineHost: TRing85673 has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: ran the short play events for years, I believe

HOST WRTR Herone: Anyway, I like him.  

GoldZilla: hi all

Noel Katz: We were a mere rental - the name would mean nothing to him today

HOST WRTR Herone: okay, gotta go -- a week of email to review

HOST WRTR SOFIE: welcome back, Linda

HOST WRTR SOFIE: topic for next week?

HOST WRTR Herone: let's not do casting/vanities yet

HOST WRTR SOFIE: ok

HOST WRTR Herone: maybe something more writerly 

Noel Katz: goodnight ladies

HOST WRTR SOFIE: how about writing action for character

HOST WRTR Herone: how about working with more than one protagonist?

HOST WRTR SOFIE: night Noel

HOST WRTR Herone: since that came up re Follies

OnlineHost: Noel Katz has left the room.

HOST WRTR Herone: tongiht

HOST WRTR SOFIE: ok

HOST WRTR SOFIE: that it shall be

HOST WRTR SOFIE: have a great week

HOST WRTR Herone: then casting follies the next week

HOST WRTR Herone: you too

OnlineHost: HOST WRTR Herone has left the room.

HOST WRTR SOFIE: good night golf

HOST WRTR SOFIE: gold