Friday, June 17, 2005
Good Morning All....
The recent New York City stifling humid heat seems a mere memory this morning, as the sun shines brightly on a clean-washed sky-blue sparkle of a day...yesterday's rainstorm seems to have done the job that scores of City streetcleaners cannot: it has made the city seem fresh and new...and a delightful place to live. The very sight of such a morning makes me feel like diving into it, and getting things accomplished. But first, to blog:
KIKI BABY is a fascinating thing to work on, as we head for the final "read" tomorrow evening, for no one in particular.....As Lonny P. said from the start of this week, these days are for pure work on the reshaping of the piece, and the end result for this time is not a backers' audition, but rather a presentation of what we come up with throughout the week. Perhaps five or six people will be present to hear the final product of this week's work...people whose opinions the writers value in order to move ahead. That pressure being lifted, the group of talented actors and singers who have been working on it have thrown themselves totally into the creating of whatever is asked of them. It has been great to watch and be a part of such process-oriented work hours. We have one more night of work, and then some time tomorrow and we then read through the whole thing for whoever is there, sometime late in the day tomorrow. Short and sweet.
As we rev up for summer classses down at CAP 21 (they start on the 29th for me), I have begun to spend more time downtown at the studios, talking a great deal with Frank and Eliza V. Since they have been asked to write a book about the work that CAP21 has been doing with Rodgers and Hammerstein materials, both of them are highly focused , this summer, on how certain techniques developed at CAP 21 come to bear on this particular material, so we have been deep into discussions of theory and practise. I find it all so genuinely interesting, and look forward to utilizing lots of what I am discussing with them in my classes this summer. It will be an action-packed 6 weeks. And I am looking forward to it all.
Peter went into Abrams Artists(our agent Gary set up the appointment with a friend of his there) and met with one of the Vice-Presidents who, (obviously liking Peter a lot) gave his photo/res to appropriate agents in the office, and by the time Peter had been home an hour, he received several phone calls for setting up further appointments with specific departments in that agency, including Print Advertising!!! Peter makes a good impression at meetings, clearly, and people like him. The next (and constant) steps are to get our agent (s) to fill Peter's calendar with as many auditions as possible, so he can actually get some performing jobs!!!
I tend to trust these "down" times, as times in which valuable seeds are being planted, and important things are being learned, but Peter, and rightfully so, is impatient to get busy and be seen and known. Of course, I agree with him. But Gary E., our dear friend agent, does listen when Peter asks for things....at this point, it's not a question of his caring, it's a matter of whether or not he has the energies and time to accomplish what Peter needs...our agency is going through transition, and whereas an oldtime client like myself can afford to be patient, clients newer on the scene cannot be expected to have the same patience. I did not have it when I was starting out either, the patience , I mean...that has only come with age and exhaustion! In any event, all that being said, I am totally optimistic about Peter's future...and am thrilled with how he has grown and strengthened in his NYC resolve. He is in terrifc shape , on every level.
Yesteday, I had cupcakes and coffee with Chase Helton and Ryan Curry from Abingdon, both of whom were here on a show-seeing trip with their highschool class....they met me downtown at CAP 21 and we went nextdoor to the Cupcake Cafe and talked and talked and talked....what terrific young talents...delightful men. Ryan was in may shows with us all at Barter, and Chase not only was in CHRISTMAS CAROL with us, but has developed as rather a director on the local scene, by choosing and producing provocative new plays for his Drama Cub(as well as a swell MIDSUMMER'S...) that use the Barter Stage 2. These are terrific young theater artists, and they know I will do anything I can to encourage their passions...it was so wonderful to see them yesterday. They are back home in Abingdon by now, after seeing SPAMELOT last night. They are probably reading this blog right now, and if they are I say: Hi GUYS!!!
So, off into another busy day....it is so wonderfully cool , after yesterday's rain, that it will be a pleasure to walk and walk. More soon...xxev
KIKI BABY is a fascinating thing to work on, as we head for the final "read" tomorrow evening, for no one in particular.....As Lonny P. said from the start of this week, these days are for pure work on the reshaping of the piece, and the end result for this time is not a backers' audition, but rather a presentation of what we come up with throughout the week. Perhaps five or six people will be present to hear the final product of this week's work...people whose opinions the writers value in order to move ahead. That pressure being lifted, the group of talented actors and singers who have been working on it have thrown themselves totally into the creating of whatever is asked of them. It has been great to watch and be a part of such process-oriented work hours. We have one more night of work, and then some time tomorrow and we then read through the whole thing for whoever is there, sometime late in the day tomorrow. Short and sweet.
As we rev up for summer classses down at CAP 21 (they start on the 29th for me), I have begun to spend more time downtown at the studios, talking a great deal with Frank and Eliza V. Since they have been asked to write a book about the work that CAP21 has been doing with Rodgers and Hammerstein materials, both of them are highly focused , this summer, on how certain techniques developed at CAP 21 come to bear on this particular material, so we have been deep into discussions of theory and practise. I find it all so genuinely interesting, and look forward to utilizing lots of what I am discussing with them in my classes this summer. It will be an action-packed 6 weeks. And I am looking forward to it all.
Peter went into Abrams Artists(our agent Gary set up the appointment with a friend of his there) and met with one of the Vice-Presidents who, (obviously liking Peter a lot) gave his photo/res to appropriate agents in the office, and by the time Peter had been home an hour, he received several phone calls for setting up further appointments with specific departments in that agency, including Print Advertising!!! Peter makes a good impression at meetings, clearly, and people like him. The next (and constant) steps are to get our agent (s) to fill Peter's calendar with as many auditions as possible, so he can actually get some performing jobs!!!
I tend to trust these "down" times, as times in which valuable seeds are being planted, and important things are being learned, but Peter, and rightfully so, is impatient to get busy and be seen and known. Of course, I agree with him. But Gary E., our dear friend agent, does listen when Peter asks for things....at this point, it's not a question of his caring, it's a matter of whether or not he has the energies and time to accomplish what Peter needs...our agency is going through transition, and whereas an oldtime client like myself can afford to be patient, clients newer on the scene cannot be expected to have the same patience. I did not have it when I was starting out either, the patience , I mean...that has only come with age and exhaustion! In any event, all that being said, I am totally optimistic about Peter's future...and am thrilled with how he has grown and strengthened in his NYC resolve. He is in terrifc shape , on every level.
Yesteday, I had cupcakes and coffee with Chase Helton and Ryan Curry from Abingdon, both of whom were here on a show-seeing trip with their highschool class....they met me downtown at CAP 21 and we went nextdoor to the Cupcake Cafe and talked and talked and talked....what terrific young talents...delightful men. Ryan was in may shows with us all at Barter, and Chase not only was in CHRISTMAS CAROL with us, but has developed as rather a director on the local scene, by choosing and producing provocative new plays for his Drama Cub(as well as a swell MIDSUMMER'S...) that use the Barter Stage 2. These are terrific young theater artists, and they know I will do anything I can to encourage their passions...it was so wonderful to see them yesterday. They are back home in Abingdon by now, after seeing SPAMELOT last night. They are probably reading this blog right now, and if they are I say: Hi GUYS!!!
So, off into another busy day....it is so wonderfully cool , after yesterday's rain, that it will be a pleasure to walk and walk. More soon...xxev
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