Helter Skelter

So it's been a week since our last post. I missed two last week, and we just got behind. Life is crazy. I spent 4 days in Chicago, Kenny was in DC trying (although, I will argue unsuccessfully to restore his sanity ;-) ) and Erika held up her end of the bargain amidst restaurant madness and starting rehearsals for a new project I will let her introduce you to. We were literally running in three different directions.

It's tough working three busy schedules into one productive artistic endeavor. Creating is hard work. It's so much energy, and time, and money. We're constantly fighting our jobs, rehearsals, classes, trips, and social engagements to get on top of the operations. And sometimes it's hard to stick with it. To make the sacrifices. To say "yes, I will focus mainly on this right now."

We're not in that place currently. It's hard to admit that.

We are making plans, we are doing the best we three can to give our energy to the company. We talk almost everyday, and have three different things we're working on right now. Planning a production, a new audition workshop, and a fundraiser. But it is a little helter skelter. For me it's important to acknowledge that. And to share it with you, our supporters. To say, "sometimes I can't make this my whole life." Honesty in creating is something I personally (and I'm 96.75% sure I can say that for Kenny and Erika as well) am always striving for. And running this company is no different. Part of this blog is staying honest about what it means to freelance, work, and self-produce, no matter what the realities may sometimes be.

But we do have continue to work to make it fit into the lives we're leading to stay viable. To keep our momentum up. To stay fresh and motivated.

So this is where you all come in. We need some feedback on fundraising. What fundraisers (FOR ANYTHING) have you been to that really work? That you would attend again? That make you want to support the cause? and also, what doesn't work for you? Currently our financial goals include joining StageSource, producing two-workshops and a full length show in the next eight months, and possibly gaining 501 (c) 3 status. Help us get there with your passion and ideas and we know the money will follow.

Send thoughts and ideas to us at colabtheatre@gmail.com.

*M-L

And, as always, see something this weekend:

Tales from Ovid - Whistler in the Dark - The Factory Theatre

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby - Lyric Stage Company

The Shirley VT Plays - Huntington Theatre Company, Speakeasy Stage, and Company One - All in the Calderwood Pavillion at the Boston Center for the Arts

Buy Local: Not Just for Produce PART TWO

A couple of months ago I posted about only supporting theatres who hire local artists. At the time it hadn't occurred to me to think even beyond actors and designers but also to our creative leaders. While this part of theatre making is crucial, arts leadership is a field where it's much harder to keep within a local market to find the best candidate for a job. Because of the nature of the work it is expected that arts leaders will move around and continue to move up the ladder of arts administration with different organizations. They also have the potential to bring in fresh ideas from the communities they've worked in and make them at home in a new place. That said, today I found this article from the Chicago Tribune (shared with me via StageSource on Facebook). Although it encourages the acceptance of out of towners as theatre leaders it's a validating statement about growing the arts in cities across the country. About creating our own artistic identity and stepping away from the accepted idea of there only being one artistic hub (New York). And how staying in a community and helping it grow, creates more jobs, arts appreciation, and a better culture of audience cultivation and retention. When the people who work for you WANT to be working in the city, patrons take notice.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE.

And I encourage you again - buy local!

*M-L