I have seen 101 shows in 2010 (not including shows I was involved in). I don't anticipate seeing anything in the next six days, so here are just a few thoughts on a year's worth of theatre from the perspective of a young director.
Of those 101, 8 were on Broadway (4 plays and 4 musicals), 17 Off-Broadway, 2 outside of NYC, and 24 readings.
A few highlights:
Best Play of 2010: NEIGHBORS by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Nigel Smith as part of Public LAB.
This will come as no surprise to anyone who has read earlier blog posts (and if you haven't, well, now's your chance to go back and find out why this was my favorite play).
Best Musical of 2010: SCOTTSBORO BOYS on Broadway directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman with music by Kander & Ebb and book by David Thompson
In retrospect, I see a lot of its holes and issues. However, the experience of seeing it was quite magical.
Best Direction of 2010: IN THE WAKE by Lisa Kron and directed by Leigh Silverman. I learned so much about perspective from this play and how to manipulate it (in conjunction with 16 hours of directing instruction from the phenomenal Ms. Silverman).
Best Reading of a New Play (TIE): HURT VILLAGE by Katori Hall and directed by Lucie Tiberghien at Atlantic Theatre Company. I hope this gets produced soon so I can see it again.
Best Reading of a New Play (TIE): CLEMENTINE IN THE LOWER NINE by Dan Dietz and directed by Leah Gardiner at Lark Play Development Center Playwrights' Week. This actually isn't included in my 101 plays because I stage managed. I was so lucky to be a part of this for ten hours... truly can't wait to see it come to life!
Honorable Mention:
THE ALIENS by Annie Baker and directed by Sam Gold at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre
Biggest Regrets About Not Seeing:
AFTER THE REVOLUTION by Amy Herzog at Playwrights Horizons
IN THE FOOTPRINT by the Civilians
and dozens of others.
Looking forward to another amazing year of theatre in 2011!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Reflection #6: On Productivity
I have hit a huge productivity funk.
I wake up at noon, make my way to work between 1 and 2pm, work until 4 or 5pm, then make my way to the theatrical event of the evening.
Not a bad life, you say? It's killing me. I hate myself.
Don't get me wrong, I love my work and I love seeing theatre every single night. But the ideas in my brain just sit there, and I can't even do things that I know I need to do because I can't get myself out of bed in the morning and when I do I sit on my computer and wait. For something. I don't even now what I'm waiting for. I am wasting away my creative energy.
I am hoping to refresh in California and come back with all the engines blazing.
Unfortunately there are things I need to get done this weekend. Today. Now.
So I am (quickly) going to write out a list of ways I can be productive in my creative life. And then I am going to resolve that if I am not actively doing one of these things when I am not at work, I might as well not be a director. Can I honestly call myself a freelancer when there are days when I spend no hours actively doing something involving directing? Absolutely not. I'm starting to feel that false sense of living again where I claim to be actively doing things but I'm not. And it's the same refrain from the people I know here as it was in California. "You're doing so much!" "You're doing all the right things!" "I'm so impressed with everything you're doing!" I feel stagnant. I am not moving anywhere. Literally (from my apartment) and figuratively.
Things that are productive:
1. Seeing shows.
2. Reading plays.
3. Blogging (because whenever I blog I feel as though I am participating in my own creative life)
4. Soliciting plays and contacts from friends and colleagues
5. Actively participating in my friends' creative lives
6. Actively brainstorming and conversing about my creative projects, both present and future
7. Socializing IN PERSON
8. Eating and exercising, because I don't do enough of either, and I'm sure this is somewhat related to my productivity funk.
9. Actively pursuing opportunities
Things that are not productive:
1. Sitting in my house
2. Talking on the internet for any reason other than those above.
3. Playing solitaire on my phone on the subway.
Ready, set, go.
I wake up at noon, make my way to work between 1 and 2pm, work until 4 or 5pm, then make my way to the theatrical event of the evening.
Not a bad life, you say? It's killing me. I hate myself.
Don't get me wrong, I love my work and I love seeing theatre every single night. But the ideas in my brain just sit there, and I can't even do things that I know I need to do because I can't get myself out of bed in the morning and when I do I sit on my computer and wait. For something. I don't even now what I'm waiting for. I am wasting away my creative energy.
I am hoping to refresh in California and come back with all the engines blazing.
Unfortunately there are things I need to get done this weekend. Today. Now.
So I am (quickly) going to write out a list of ways I can be productive in my creative life. And then I am going to resolve that if I am not actively doing one of these things when I am not at work, I might as well not be a director. Can I honestly call myself a freelancer when there are days when I spend no hours actively doing something involving directing? Absolutely not. I'm starting to feel that false sense of living again where I claim to be actively doing things but I'm not. And it's the same refrain from the people I know here as it was in California. "You're doing so much!" "You're doing all the right things!" "I'm so impressed with everything you're doing!" I feel stagnant. I am not moving anywhere. Literally (from my apartment) and figuratively.
Things that are productive:
1. Seeing shows.
2. Reading plays.
3. Blogging (because whenever I blog I feel as though I am participating in my own creative life)
4. Soliciting plays and contacts from friends and colleagues
5. Actively participating in my friends' creative lives
6. Actively brainstorming and conversing about my creative projects, both present and future
7. Socializing IN PERSON
8. Eating and exercising, because I don't do enough of either, and I'm sure this is somewhat related to my productivity funk.
9. Actively pursuing opportunities
Things that are not productive:
1. Sitting in my house
2. Talking on the internet for any reason other than those above.
3. Playing solitaire on my phone on the subway.
Ready, set, go.
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