This from Jake, in the comments on the Risk post below:
Here's the question, though. Is this a revolution from the inside or a full on erasure of what we know -- of the powers that be? Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? Are there agencies already in existence that could help us out? For instance, I'm currently enjoying a (rather substantial) grant from TCG in the mentorship program and that's defnitely an area they are interested. (They are also at the beginning of doing a pretty big joint program with opera, dance, and orchestra organizations.) Perhaps that's an avenue to pursue. What about Art/NY...who are our allies in this? And what is the ultimate goal? I like John's list, but a revolution makes me thing there's a king to dethrone. Is there one? Who is he? Where is he enthroned? Sometimes I feel like our rhetoric gets in the way of what we actually need to accomplish.
There is no king, I don't think, just like there's no actual physical wall between Houston and uptown or Brooklyn and Manhattan. And the revolution I dream of is not one of destroying something that exists but creating something that doesn't yet. There are a lot of good ideas and organizations out there and the more you look the more you'll find. In very simple terms, I'm interested in seeing a professionally run organization created that is dedicated to the needs of the artists and producers working in 99 seat theaters in New York. TCG is looking at the whole country. ART/NY is looking at the whole city. Wouldn't it be beautiful to have a collective organization dealing with organizations like those two to foster Off-Off and looking for the other partnerships and opportunities that are out there?
Ninety zillion degrees today in London. True fact. We've all been atomized.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Monday night late in the Big Smoke. One week down on Midnight Cowboy rehearsals. Thanks to an extraordinarily talented and game cast and an exceptional stage manager (Tom Jeffords, an American, hire him if you can), we are blocked. Moving slightly faster than the speed of light.
Moved into an actual apartment, out of the hotel.
Hotels...
What is it in a hotel that reduces a person to a body? Night after night, your individuality, your history, your personality is leached, reduced. You become a person who lives in a hotel. It defines your day and worst, controls your night. You sleep the shallow, empty sleep of a man who sleeps in a hotel.
Nice flat in Southwark for the next two weeks. Cats. Nancy. Real life.
Way out here in London, working mad on this show and yet thinking hard on New York. This whole League can happen, however, I can't do it. We can.
If you know me, then you need to help me do this, because you know it's a good idea.
If you don't know me, then you really need to help me, because it's help from unexpected sources that pushes things over the limit and makes the difficult easy and the impossible unstoppable.
And here's something else:
I just heard from my father that a great man has died. So rest in peace Robert A. Hetlage. I knew him from when I was a child, I knew him all my life. He lived long and he lived well, he died a devoted husband and a loved father and grandfather. He lived honorably. He was a true and complete friend to his friends. He was a man you could rely on to the end of the world.
A sad night for us. Rest in peace, Bob.
Moved into an actual apartment, out of the hotel.
Hotels...
What is it in a hotel that reduces a person to a body? Night after night, your individuality, your history, your personality is leached, reduced. You become a person who lives in a hotel. It defines your day and worst, controls your night. You sleep the shallow, empty sleep of a man who sleeps in a hotel.
Nice flat in Southwark for the next two weeks. Cats. Nancy. Real life.
Way out here in London, working mad on this show and yet thinking hard on New York. This whole League can happen, however, I can't do it. We can.
If you know me, then you need to help me do this, because you know it's a good idea.
If you don't know me, then you really need to help me, because it's help from unexpected sources that pushes things over the limit and makes the difficult easy and the impossible unstoppable.
And here's something else:
I just heard from my father that a great man has died. So rest in peace Robert A. Hetlage. I knew him from when I was a child, I knew him all my life. He lived long and he lived well, he died a devoted husband and a loved father and grandfather. He lived honorably. He was a true and complete friend to his friends. He was a man you could rely on to the end of the world.
A sad night for us. Rest in peace, Bob.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
back in London
Folks,
Apologies for the silence here, I had to fly back to London early for some additional casting and design meetings for Midnight Cowboy. Rehearsals start tomorrow morning and I'm ready to get into it. If you're in London look us up, we're here all month. If you're in New York, check out all the good things going down at the Ohio Theater with their Ice Factory blow-out and something very good opening at PS 122 on Wednesday that I can't remember the name of... Lemon Orange Canary? Orange Lemon Canary? Something Something Canary, I'm pretty sure.
Interesting, fruitful conversations with Melody Brooks and Ben Hodges, among others right before I left. I'm working towards an action plan for the fall I can post up here. One thing that seems certain is that any changes to the Showcase Code or creation of a new contract are going to have to come from the Equity members themselves. So we need to start reaching out and contacting Equity actors with an alternate contract, getting their input and work towards a petition.
In an internet cafe in Hammersmith, paying by the hour, so I'm off.
Speak soon.
Apologies for the silence here, I had to fly back to London early for some additional casting and design meetings for Midnight Cowboy. Rehearsals start tomorrow morning and I'm ready to get into it. If you're in London look us up, we're here all month. If you're in New York, check out all the good things going down at the Ohio Theater with their Ice Factory blow-out and something very good opening at PS 122 on Wednesday that I can't remember the name of... Lemon Orange Canary? Orange Lemon Canary? Something Something Canary, I'm pretty sure.
Interesting, fruitful conversations with Melody Brooks and Ben Hodges, among others right before I left. I'm working towards an action plan for the fall I can post up here. One thing that seems certain is that any changes to the Showcase Code or creation of a new contract are going to have to come from the Equity members themselves. So we need to start reaching out and contacting Equity actors with an alternate contract, getting their input and work towards a petition.
In an internet cafe in Hammersmith, paying by the hour, so I'm off.
Speak soon.
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